High Accuracy Orbital Prediction

The capability to predict the orbital decay of satellites and orbiting bodies is becoming increasingly important.

Our team has expertise in high accuracy orbit modelling, accurate determination of orbital decay, determination of satellite drag coefficient and reflectivity coefficient.  The team has the experience and know-how to effectively transform the inherently low accuracy, yet abundant, satellite ephemerides data source of Two-Line Element sets into high quality and useful data for the scientific and engineering fields.

The methods used to predict orbital decay may also be used to analyse thermospheric density, high altitude atmospheric winds and solar radiation pressure.

NASA JPL Animation of all known asteroids in the Solar System

Due to the growing population of space debris in orbit the ability to track orbiting debris and to model Low Earth Orbit and the conjunctions between orbiting objects is required for current and future spacecraft operations. Mitigation continues to be used in an attempt to reduce the long-lived debris but implementation of remediation techniques are needed in order to actively reduce the population.

Our team has expertise in space debris environment models, conjunction assessments, and space situational awareness. The team has the experience to model the space debris environment using historical conjunction assessments or simulations of the future environment in order to identify objects for remediation.