Innovative Earth Gravity Reformulation and Numerical Integration for Responsive SSA

ABSTRACT: Computation of the geopotential acceleration and its partial derivatives per the standard formulation consumes considerable numerical integration time in special perturbations (SP) applications. Recent research by Dr. Beylkin of the University of Colorado (CU) has demonstrated efficient techniques for evaluation of such formulations via upfront computations on a spherical grid. One potential application for this research is the SP processing of the high accuracy satellite catalog in the Air Force Joint Space Operations Center (JSpOC). Interpolating geopotential from upfront calculations on a spherical grid shows promise in speeding up the differential correction process, thus facilitating more timely maintenance of the High Accuracy Catalog of Space objects. BENEFIT: Interpolating geopotential from upfront calculations on a spherical grid shows promise in speeding up the differential correction process, thus facilitating more timely maintenance of the High Accuracy Catalog of Space objects. This will greatly benefit the JSpOC in its catalog maintenance mission using its current software upgraded with the new geopotential model. It will also benefit the JSpOC Mission System (JMS) in terms of timeliness in maintaining the High Accuracy Space Catalog. More current information (from satellite updates) will greatly facilitate the timeliness and accuracy of the Conjunction Assessment (CA) process. The upgraded geopotential model will also be of great interest to all commercial satellite owner/operators.