Station-Keeping Manoeuvre Detection for Autonomous Precise Interferometric Tracking of Geosynchronous Satellites
- Resource Type
- Conference
- Authors
- Nicolas-Alvarez, Jorge; Carreno-Megias, Xavier; Fuste, Oriol; Ferrer, Estel; Albert, Miquel; Amlou, Anas; Aguasca, Albert; Broquetas, Antoni
- Source
- 2021 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium IGARSS Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium IGARSS , 2021 IEEE International. :7783-7786 Jul, 2021
- Subject
- Aerospace
Geoscience
Photonics and Electrooptics
Signal Processing and Analysis
Space vehicles
Tracking
Snow
Low earth orbit satellites
Orbits
Trajectory
Remote sensing
- Language
- ISSN
- 2153-7003
The advent of geosynchronous remote sensing missions requires the development of precise orbit determination techniques at high orbits. Geosynchronous satellites require station-keeping manoeuvres to be performed periodically. Dynamical models do not consider artificial forces. Therefore, the tracking system must be able to detect them in order to keep track of the spacecraft autonomously. A compact baseline interferometer is deployed in order to track the signals of opportunity from the ASTRA 19.2°E geostationary constellation. The system is capable of autonomously estimate the trajectory of the satellite for a period of 22 days. Even after artificial orbital manoeuvres are performed. These results show that interferometry is a valid alternative for future geosynchronous remote sensing missions which require precise orbit determination.