Precise Ephemeris Reconstruction Using the Clohessy-Wiltshire Frame and Multiple Sequential Compressions

A precise onboard ephemeris propagation method that uses a multiple sequential compression is developed. A least-square regression is used to define the reference orbit in the form of polynomial functions. Then the position and velocity residuals in terms of rectangular coordinates are generated by subtracting the reference orbit from a numerically generated precise orbit and expressed in the Clohessy-Wiltshire frame. The residuals are compressed using various kinds of basis functions to reflect secular and periodic variations. Precise position and velocity reconstruction is achieved by adding the compressed residuals into the reference orbit. Numerical simulation experiments and performance comparisons with previous results support the validity of the proposed method.