RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Array-Aided Precise Orbit and Attitude Determination of CubeSats using GNSS
JF NAVIGATION: Journal of the Institute of Navigation
JO NAVIGATION
FD Institute of Navigation
SP navi.651
DO 10.33012/navi.651
VO 71
IS 3
A1 Allahvirdi-Zadeh, Amir
A1 El-Mowafy, Ahmed
YR 2024
UL https://navi.ion.org/content/71/3/navi.651.abstract
AB CubeSats hold promise for various applications, but their viability in demanding missions such as future low Earth orbiting position, navigation, and timing (LEO-PNT) systems hinges on higher orbital accuracy and reliable attitude information. To address these challenges, we present an array-aided combined precise orbit and attitude determination model with an optimal solution. In the estimation process, multi- and affine-constrained models are used to precisely determine the attitude, and then, highly precise observations for an antenna array are reconstructed based on fixed ambiguities and a decorrelation step. Validations confirm the significance of integer ambiguities in the model, highlighting the cost-effectiveness of this model compared with star trackers for attitude determination. The reconstructed observations outperform the original observations, leading to improved orbital components, with the three-dimensional root mean square (RMS) equal to 4.1 cm. The observation residuals are smoother, with an RMS of 6 mm, half of that obtained via a single antenna. The developed models offer great potential for CubeSats, advancing their orbit and attitude determination capabilities.