Increasing Accuracy of Satellite Position Prediction with Considering Harmonics of Potential Function of the Earth

Abstract

In this paper predicting of position of satellite based on extended kalman filter with considering hardware implementation consideration and simultaneously maintaining desired accuracy is investigated. For this purpose, first, effective forces on orbital dynamic and nonlinear equation of orbital motion are presented. In order to increasing accuracy of prediction in position of satellite, J2, J3 and J4 harmonics of potentialfunction of the earth are considered and future position of satellite is predicted using linearized dynamic model and applying EKF on this model. Here Measurement data are position and velocity vector of satellite which are extracted by GPS receivers. Since in this paper systematic satellite design is considered, scenario of “ON TIME” of GPS receivers based on power consumption considerations is discussed. Finally simulation results for a LEO satellite and comparing these results with STK results, shows accuracy of presented modeling and equations.

Keywords

• satellite
• position determination
• orbital dynamic modeling
• extended kalman filter
• earth potential function