Orbit Predictions for Space Object Tracked by Ground-Based Optical and SLR Stations

Abstract

In many cases, we have few optical observations over a short time span, and most of the information generated is too limited to compute a full orbit according to the angles-only method. This study aims to develop a mathematical model to determine the precise orbit from the optical observation data by the least squares method. We have used a set of the Global Navigational Satellite Systems, which are tracked by the Optical Satellite Tracking Station (OSTS) at the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG), Egypt, to access high-quality predictions for the orbits. We analyzed the orbit predictions from the observations of these satellites that are tracked from seven world stations using the laser ranging method, and the obtained results are compared with orbital elements produced using the Two-Line Element (TLE). The results showed that the orbital prediction accuracy differs for optical observations from laser observations because of the inaccuracy of the NORAD catalog information used; this is due to the difference between the time of observation and the epoch time of TLE.