This work introduces the problem of initial orbit determination (IOD) from only heading measurements. Such a problem occurs in practice when estimating the orbit of a spacecraft using visual odometry measurements from an optical camera. After reviewing the problem geometry, a simple solution is developed in the form of an iterative scheme on the parameters describing the orbital hodograph. Numerical results are presented for an example spacecraft in low lunar orbit. The principal intent of this brief study is to communicate the existence of a new class of IOD problem to the community and to encourage the broader study of hodographs and heading-only IOD.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Initial Orbit Determination from Only Heading Measurements


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Publication date :

    2023-02-22


    Size :

    7 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English




    ANGLES-ONLY INITIAL ORBIT DETERMINATION (IOD)

    COLEMAN GARY D / SILNY JOHN F | European Patent Office | 2017

    Free access

    Bearings-Only Initial Relative Orbit Determination

    LeGrand, Keith A. / DeMars, Kyle J. / Pernicka, Henry J. | AIAA | 2015


    ANGLES-ONLY INITIAL ORBIT DETERMINATION (IOD)

    COLEMAN GARY D / SILNY JOHN F | European Patent Office | 2018

    Free access

    Angles-only initial orbit determination (IOD)

    COLEMAN GARY D / SILNY JOHN F | European Patent Office | 2016

    Free access

    Bearings-Only Initial Relative Orbit Determination

    Keith A LeGrand | Online Contents | 2015