Robust Spacecraft Attitude Determination and Control

Research is being performed to develop improved spacecraft attitude determination and control algorithms. In particular, robust algorithms are being sought that provide attitude information with a minimal complement of attitude sensors. Also, research is being performed to improve the accuracy of existing hardware sensors through software modifications. Some current and past projects include:

• Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP)
• Solar Anomalous and Magnetospheric Particle Explorer (SAMPEX)
• Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM)
• Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES)

This work is sponsored by NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center. Results from research can be obtained from:

[1] Crassidis, J.L., Cheng, Y., and Nebelecky, C.K., “Decentralized Attitude Estimation Using a Quaternion Covariance Intersection Approach,” AAS F. Landis Markley Astronautics Symposium, Cambridge, MD, June-July 2008, AAS Paper #2008-284.

[2] Markley, F.L., Cheng, Y., Crassidis, J.L., and Oshman, Y., “Averaging Quaternions,” AIAA Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, Vol. 30, No. 4, July-Aug. 2007, pp. 1193-1196.

[3] Crassidis, J.L., Markley, F.L., and Cheng, Y., “A Survey of Nonlinear Attitude Estimation Methods,” AIAA Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, Vol. 30, No. 1, Jan.-Feb. 2007, pp. 12-28.

[4] Kumar, A., and Crassidis, J.L., “Colored-Noise Kalman Filter for Vibration Mitigation of Position/Attitude Estimation Systems,” AIAA Guidance, Navigation, and Control Conference, Hilton Head, SC, Aug. 2007, AIAA Paper #2007-6516.

[5] Lam, Q., and Crassidis, J.L., “Evaluation of a Multiple Model Adaptive Estimation for Space Vehicle’s Enhanced Navigation Solution,” AIAA Guidance, Navigation, and Control Conference, Hilton Head, SC, Aug. 2007, AIAA Paper #2007-6816.

[6] Cole, C.L., and Crassidis, J.L., “Fast Star Pattern Recognition Using Spherical Triangles,” AIAA Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, Vol. 29, No. 1, Jan.-Feb. 2006, pp. 64-71.

[7] Cheng, Y., Crassidis, J.L., and Markley, F.L., “Attitude Estimation for Large Field-of-View Sensors,” The Journal of the Astronautical Sciences, Vol. 54, Nos. 3-4, July-Dec. 2006, pp. 433-448.

[8] Crassidis, J.L., Lai, K.-L., and Harman, R.R. “Real-Time Attitude-Independent Three-Axis Magnetometer Calibration,” AIAA Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, Vol. 28, No. 1, Jan.-Feb. 2005, pp. 115-120.

[9] Crassidis, J.L., and Cole, C.L., “Fast Star Pattern Recognition using Spherical Triangles,” AIAA/AAS Astrodynamics Specialist Conference and Exhibit, Providence, RI, Aug. 2004, AIAA Paper #2004-5389.

[10] Cheng, Y., and Crassidis, J.L., “Particle Filtering for Sequential Spacecraft Attitude Estimation,” AIAA Guidance, Navigation, and Control Conference, Providence, RI, Aug. 2004, AIAA Paper #2004-5337.

[11] Crassidis, J.L., and Markley, F.L., “Unscented Filtering for Spacecraft Attitude Estimation,” AIAA Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, Vol. 26, No. 4, July-Aug. 2003, pp. 536-542.

[12] Crassidis, J.L., Lai, K.-L., and Harman, R.R., “Real-Time Attitude-Independent Three-Axis Magnetometer Calibration,” Flight Mechanics Symposium, NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, Oct. 2003, NASA CP-2003-212246.

[13] Lai, K.-L., Crassidis, J.L., and Harman, R.R., “In-Space Spacecraft Alignment Calibration Using the Unscented Filter,” AIAA Guidance, Navigation, and Control Conference, Austin, TX, Aug. 2003, AIAA Paper #2003-5563.

[14] Singla, P., Crassidis, J.L., and Junkins, J.L., “Spacecraft Angular Rate Estimation Algorithms for Star Tracker-Based Attitude Determination,” 13th AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Meeting, Ponce, Puerto Rico, Feb. 2003, AAS Paper # 03-191.

[15] Sun, D., and Crassidis, J.L., “Observability Analysis of Six Degree of Freedom State Determination Using Vector Observations,” AIAA Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, Vol. 25, No. 6, Nov.-Dec. 2002, pp. 1149-1157.

[16] Crassidis, J.L., “Angular Velocity Determination Directly from Star Tracker Measurements,” AIAA Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, Vol. 25, No. 6, Nov.-Dec. 2002, pp. 1165-1168.

[17] Kim, J.-R., and Crassidis, J.L., “Robust Spacecraft Attitude Control Using Model-Error Control Synthesis,” AIAA Guidance, Navigation, and Control Conference, Monterey, CA, Aug. 2002, AIAA Paper #02-4576.

[18] Singla, P., Griffith, D.T., Crassidis, J.L., and Junkins, J.L., “Attitude Determination and Autonomous On-Orbit Calibration of Star Tracker for GIFTS Mission,” AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Meeting, San Antonio, TX, Jan. 2002, AAS Paper #02-101.

[19] Crassidis, J.L., Alonso, R., and Junkins, J.L., “Optimal Attitude and Position Determination from Line-of-Sight Measurements,” The Journal of the Astronautical Sciences, Vol. 48, Nos. 2-3, April-Sept. 2000, pp. 391-408.

[20] Crassidis, J.L., Vadali, S.R., and Markley, F.L., “Optimal Variable-Structure Control Tracking of Spacecraft Maneuvers,” AIAA Journal of Guidance, Control and Dynamics, Vol. 23, No. 3, May-June 2000, pp. 564-566.

[21] Yim, J.R., Crassidis, J.L., and Junkins, J.L., “Autonomous Orbit Navigation of Interplanetary Spacecraft,” AIAA Guidance, Navigation, and Control Conference, Denver, CO, Aug. 2000, AIAA Paper #00-3936.

[22] Crassidis, J.L., and Markley, F.L., “Nonlinear Predictive Control of Spacecraft,” AIAA Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, Vol. 20, No. 6, Nov.-Dec. 1997, pp. 1096-1103.

[23] Crassidis, J.L., and Markley, F.L., “A Minimum Model Error Approach for Attitude Estimation,” AIAA Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, Vol. 20, No. 6, Nov.-Dec. 1997, pp. 1241-1247.

[24] Crassidis, J.L., and Markley, F.L., “Predictive Filtering for Attitude Estimation Without Rate Sensors,” AIAA Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, Vol. 20, No. 3, May-June 1997, pp. 522-527.

[25] Crassidis, J.L., and Markley, F.L., “A Predictive Attitude Determination Algorithm,” Proceedings of the Flight Mechanics/Estimation Theory Symposium, NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, May 1997, pp. 249-263.

[25] Crassidis, J.L., Markley, F.L., Kyle, A.M., and Blackman, K., “Attitude Determination Designs for the GOES Spacecraft,” Proceedings of the SPIE International Symposium on Optical Science, Engineering, and Instrumentation, Denver, CO, Vol. 2812, Aug. 1996, Paper #74.

[27] Crassidis, J.L., and Markley, F.L., “Attitude Estimation Using Modified Rodrigues Parameters,” Proceedings of the Flight Mechanics/Estimation Theory Symposium, NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, May 1996, pp. 71-83.

[28] Crassidis, J.L., Andrews, S.F., Markley, F.L., and Ha, K., “Contingency Designs for Attitude Determination of TRMM,” Proceedings of the Flight Mechanics/Estimation Theory Symposium, NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, May 1995, pp. 419-433.