Orbit Estimation Algorithms for a Microsatellite Rendezvous with a Non-Cooperative Target

This study investigated the minimum requirements to establish a satellite tracking system architecture for a microsatellite to rendezvous with a non-cooperative target satellite. A prototype optical tracking system was reviewed with emphasis on a proposed tactical employment that could be used by technologically unsophisticated state or non-state adversaries. With the tracking system architecture selected, simulated tracking data was processed with a Non-Linear Least Squares batch orbit estimation algorithm and a Bayes sequential orbit determination filter to update the target satellite's state vector.