Tracking algorithm design and precision analysis of space object measure for orbiting optical camera

The evolution of technology made it possible to place elements of the space surveillance network in space, include electro-optical systems, which will effectively make up the limitation of ground-based space surveillance system in existence. The orbiting optical camera will play more and more important roles in the activities of surveillance and measurement of space object. There are two operation modes in the track & measurement of interested space object using orbiting optical camera, which are autonomous tracking mode and program tracking mode. If using program tracking mode, it is necessary to analyze the precision of the tracking program when designing the program tracking algorithm, in order to keep the object in the field of view during the tracking process. The productions of this paper include putting forward the design flow of orientation tracking algorithm and calculating method of orientation tracking angle for the orbiting optical camera, analyzing the dominant random errors influencing the precision of tracking program, and deducing the error transfer function through the calculating formula of program tracking angle. The conclusion is obtained based on analyzing the calculating result of a simulating instance using the error transfer model deduced, which is the relative distance, attitude control error of the measure satellite and orbit prediction error of the space object tracked are the dominant factors influencing the precision of tracking program.