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  • Patent number: 7860617
    Abstract: A spacecraft system is provided, including a measurement device configured to measure information associated with position of a spacecraft, a filter configured to process the measured information and to provide estimated pre-maneuver information associated with position of the spacecraft and estimated post-maneuver information associated with position of the spacecraft, a propagator configured to predict post-maneuver information associated with position of the spacecraft based upon the estimated pre-maneuver information associated with position of the spacecraft and a model of a maneuver of the spacecraft, an error calculator configured to calculate an acceleration error based upon the estimated post-maneuver information associated with position of the spacecraft and the predicted post-maneuver information associated with position of the spacecraft, and a maneuver archive configured to store the acceleration error for updating the model of the maneuver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignees: Lockheed Martin Corporation, Emergent Space Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David Gaylor, William Bamford, Neil E. Goodzeit, Harald J. Weigl