Author

Mesut Gulmus

Date of Award

3-12-2008

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Space Systems

Department

Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics

First Advisor

Kerry D. Hicks, PhD

Abstract

The goal of this research is to build up a logic to catch and track incoming ASAT weapons by using space-based onboard optical sensors. The satellite orbit and ASAT trajectory of the Chinese test were generated to relate the research to the real world application. These position and velocity values are used to generate simulated observation data for a hypothetical sensor on the targeted satellite. These observation values are assumed to be true, and some representative amounts of error was added to these data. Only two body dynamics are considered; drag effect and other perturbations are neglected. The modern orbit determination process, least squares method, and Monte Carlo techniques are used to calculate the estimated orbit of the ASAT. Standard deviations of the relative position of the ASAT with respect to the targeted satellite at the time of impact are calculated for different sensors with different accuracy and data collection intervals.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-GSS-ENY-08M-03

DTIC Accession Number

ADA482716

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