Queenique Dinh, University of Colorado Boulder; Daniel Scheeres, University of Colorado Boulder; Marcus Holzinger, University of Colorado Boulder
Keywords: Cislunar, Initial Orbit Determination, Admissible Regions, Space Situational Awareness
Abstract:
With the expansion of human activities in cislunar space, it is crucial to augment space situational awareness (SSA) capabilities across the region. Adapting initial orbit determination (IOD) techniques is a key opportunity, addressing challenges like the chaotic dynamics of the circular restricted 3-body problem (CR3BP) and the spatial scales between targets and observers which ultimately cause traditional IOD techniques to fail. This work leverages admissible regions theory and topocentric intersection theory analysis to develop an IOD method for objects in cislunar space. Topocentric intersection theory analysis (TITA) links two observations by looking at lower dimensional projections of their admissible regions in measurement and sensor-centric coordinates, then identifying the potential initial range and range-rates at the intersections of these projections. When considering the effects of uncertainty on both measurements, the points of intersections expand into areas, and we observe a shift in their locations on the initial range and range-rate plane. We apply the work to three orbits of interest around the L2 Lagrange point – a planar orbit, a 3:1 resonance Halo orbit, and a 9:2 resonance Near-Rectilinear Halo Orbit – and discuss some of its benefits and limitations. Through this exploration of the solution space, we set the foundation for systematically defining admissible regions for cislunar IOD.
Date of Conference: September 17-20, 2024
Track: Cislunar SDA