Spacecraft Localization via Angle Measurements for Autonomous Navigation in Deep Space Missions

This paper deals with spacecraft autonomous navigation in deep space missions. The considered problem is that of spacecraft localization based on angular measurements. The dynamic model of the spacecraft accounts for several perturbing effects, such as Earth and Moon gravitational field asymmetry and errors associated with the Moon ephemerides. The measurement process is based on elevation and azimuth of Moon and Earth with respect to the spacecraft reference system. Distance measurements are not employed. Position and velocity of the spacecraft are estimated by using both the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) and the Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF). The performance of the filters are evaluated on an example of Earth-to-Moon transfer mission.