Orbit determination for Nozomi

Abstract

Nozomi is the first Japanese spacecraft to explore the planet Mars. It was launched in July, 1998, and put into interplanetary trajectory by multiple lunar gravity assists and a powered Earth swing-by. This paper describes the analysis of orbit determination in each phase of Nozomi trajectory. Non-conservative force which is caused by solar radiation pressure and unexpected small maneuvers at reorientations has a significant influence on orbit determination for Nozomi. We improved the modeling of the non-conservative force. The accuracy of orbit determination is 1km in position and 1 cm/s in velocity in well determined period for cislunar orbit. Show more