Utilization and Validation of DSS-17 on the CAPSTONE Lunar Mission

Utilization and Validation of DSS-17 on the CAPSTONE Lunar Mission

Presented at the 33rd AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Meeting 2023

MichaelR. Thompson, and Mitchell Rosen

ABSTRACT

The Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment (CAPSTONE) mission is an ongoing mission to serve as a pathfinder for cislunar operations and navigation for the Lunar Gateway and the greater Artemis program. As part of nominal operations, one of the tracking dishes that CAPSTONE utilizes is DSS-17 at Morehead State University. Through a series of necessary corrections, CAPSTONE has been able to generate radiometric measurements using this dish on the same order of noise magnitude as typical DSN measurements. This paper will provide an overview of the necessary processes and early performance of DSS-17 in CAPSTONE orbit determination.

(more…)

Utilization of Space-Based TDoA and FDoA for Cislunar Orbit Determination

Utilization of Space-Based TDoA and FDoA for Cislunar Orbit Determination

Presented at the Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies (AMOS) 2022 Conference

Michael R. Thompson, Matthew D. Popplewell, Bradley Cheetham

ABSTRACT

This study evaluates the potential observability benefits of space-based passive RF systems compared to other ground-based and space-based observers for cislunar Space Domain Awareness. TDoA and FDoA observations are used for orbit determination of objects in the lunar vicinity using observers in GEO and XGEO. The results are compared to ground-based observations in order to analyze the performance gains over existing architectures. Results show using space-based systems result in faster filter convergence and more accurate state estimates.

(more…)

Cislunar Orbit Determination and Tracking via Simulated Space-Based Measurements

Cislunar Orbit Determination and Tracking via Simulated Space-Based Measurements

Michael R. Thompson, Nathan P. Ré, Cameron Meek, Bradley Cheetham

ABSTRACT

Building on previous work in cislunar orbit determination at Advanced Space, this paper demonstrates cislunar orbit determination via simulated optical measurements from another spacecraft in cislunar space. The goal of this work is to evaluate the potential performance (in terms of the uncertainties in the state of a target object) of space-based optical tracking filters in the vicinity of the Moon.

Presented at the Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies (AMOS) 2021 Conference