AURORAS technique for rapid orbit determination

The Advanced Uni-sensor Rapid Orbit Reconstruction Analysis and Sensing (AURORAS) technique achieves orbit determination (OD) an order of magnitude faster than conventional angles-only techniques using a single passive optical system. AURORAS is a new algorithmic approach that relies on event-type data produced by event-based cameras or photon counting imagers that record the position and time of change-detection events or individual photon arrival events, respectively. Conventional angles-only OD techniques require at least three discrete observations of the space object’s angular position over an extended time period. The duration of time between measurements must be long enough to see changes in position and estimate the arc of motion along the orbital path. In contrast, AURORAS requires only one continuous observation over a short time to simultaneously measure angular position, velocity, and acceleration. AURORAS is a differential approach, rather than integral approach, to calculating a state estimate using a modified version of Laplace’s equations for OD. Utilizing high-cadence detections (i.e., temporally dense angles-only observations) the AURORAS technique discerns subtle curvature in motion without the lengthy time required by conventional methods. By reducing the necessary observing time AURORAS poses to significantly improve the timeliness of vital space situational awareness information to support decision making in the increasingly congested space domain. The AURORAS technique for OD is protected by patent US12080000B2.