Autonomous Navigation for Satellites using Lasercom Systems

An autonomous navigation concept is introduced when a space lasercom (laser communications) system is used for crosslink between two or several orbiting satellites. An on-board tracking estimator is developed based upon the measurement, quantities of ranging data from the communication laser beacon, the line-of-sight vector of the returned signal the optical receiver, together with the satellite attitude and initial ephemeris knowledge. Via en on-board estimator, the relative position and velocity vectors between the two satellites can be estimated quite precisely. Sensitivity of the information content resulted from the lasercom tracking estimator is then analyzed for the feasibility of satellite ephemeris determination via on-board processing with minimum ground support. Linear covariance analysis of a multi-satellite constellation has also been conducted to evaluate the workability of lasercom autonomous navigation system for future space communication network.