Method for determining the altitude of an unknown space object to estimate the slant range in problems of orbit calculation from angular optical measurements

Authors

  • Vasilina S. Baranova Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus
  • Alexander A. Spiridonov Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus
  • Vladimir L. Kozlov Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus
  • Dmitrii V. Ushakov Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus
  • Vladimir A. Saetchnikov Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus

Keywords:

space object, optical measurements, orbital parameters

Abstract

A method for estimating the altitude of an unknown space object, assuming near-circular orbital motion, is presented. This technique is applied to adjust the slant range parameter and determine two position radius vectors based on optical angular measurements. The initial orbit determination approach utilises two radius vectors from correlated detection regions of the unknown satellite relative to a reference mask satellite. The orbital altitude for the two angular measurement regions of the detected Indefix/Ariane 42p satellite was determined with errors of 2.1 and 2.2 km respectively, compared to the calculated altitude of 752.2 km in the SGP model. By incorporating altitude-based corrections, the slant range error did not exceed 3 km. A comparative analysis was conducted on the initial orbit determination results for the Indefix/Ariane 42p satellite, evaluating the slant range through the projection of linear velocity onto the frame plane and using altitude-based corrections for slant range estimation.

Author Biographies

  • Vasilina S. Baranova, Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus

    researcher at the department of the physics and aerospace technologies, faculty of radiophysics and computer technology

  • Alexander A. Spiridonov, Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus

    PhD (physics and mathematics), docent; associate professor at the department of physics and aerospace technologies, faculty of radiophysics and computer technology

  • Vladimir L. Kozlov, Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus

    doctor of science (engineering), full professor; professor at the department of quantum radiophysics and optoelectronics, faculty of radiophysics and computer technology

  • Dmitrii V. Ushakov, Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus

    doctor of science (physics and mathematics), docent; dean of the faculty of radiophysics and computer technology

  • Vladimir A. Saetchnikov, Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus

    doctor of science (physics and mathematics), full professor; head of the department of physics and aerospace technologies, faculty of radiophysics and computer technology

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Published

2025-09-15

Issue

No. 2 (2025): Journal of the Belarusian State University. Physics

Section

Research Instruments and Methods

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How to Cite

(1)
Baranova, V. S. .; Spiridonov, A. A.; Kozlov, V. L.; Ushakov, D. V. .; Saetchnikov, V. A. Method for Determining the Altitude of an Unknown Space Object to Estimate the Slant Range in Problems of Orbit Calculation from Angular Optical Measurements. Журнал Белорусского государственного университета. Физика 2025, No. 2, 4-18.