Abstract:
The expanding role of positional covariance data in
modern spacecraft operations leads to a need for better
understanding of the time evolution of covariance by
mission planners and operators. It is common to see
positional covariance information presented as uncertainties
in the radial, cross-track and in-track directions.
While such a time history does provide some information,
it tends to obscure the true directionality of the
uncertainty. A methodology for improving the understanding
of position covariance based on 3D visualization
is presented. The methodology utilizes sequential
estimation to provide insight into the evolution of the
covariance in the presence of measurements and to incorporate
the effects of dynamic modeling uncertainties
between measurements. Display of the covariance as a
triaxial ellipsoid representing a desired probability level
is discussed. Various methods for interpolating positional
covariance are examined resulting in a recommendation
of a technique based on an eigenvalue/eigenvector
decomposition of the covariance.
Keywords:
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Woodburn, J., and Tanygin, S., “Position Covariance Visualization," AIAA Paper 2002-4985, AIAA/AAS Astrodynamics Specialist Conference, Monterey, CA, August 2002, accessible at https://comspoc.com/Resources/Content/Private/C-20220422T164748/Paper/Position-Covariance-Visualization.pdf.
