On-board orbit determination for low thrust LEO-MEO transfer by Consider Kalman Filtering and multi-constellation GNSS

In the framework of the novel navigation scenario offered by the next generation satellite low thrust autonomous LEO-to-MEO orbit transfer, this study proposes and tests a GNSS based navigation system aimed at providing on board precise and robust orbit determination strategy to override rising criticalities. The analysis introduces the challenging design issues to simultaneously deal with the variable orbit regime, the electric thrust control and the high orbit GNSS visibility conditions. The Consider Kalman Filtering approach is here proposed as the filtering scheme to process the GNSS raw data provided by a multi-antenna/multi-constellation receiver in presence of uncertain parameters affecting measurements, actuation and spacecraft physical properties. Filter robustness and achievable navigation accuracy are verified using a high fidelity simulation of the low-thrust rising scenario and performance are compared with the one of a standard Extended Kalman Filtering approach to highlight the advantages of the proposed solution. Performance assessment of the developed navigation solution is accomplished for different transfer phases.