AAS 95-432

The Accuracy of General Perturbations and Semianalytic Satellite Ephemeris Theories

W. N. Barker and R. N. Wallner, Kaman Sciences Corporation, Colorado Springs, CO

Abstract

Several general perturbations and semianalytic satellite ephemeris theories have been evaluated from the points of view of accuracy, computational efficiency, and operational utility. The theories have been evaluated for both orbit determination and orbit prediction, and over a wide range of orbit types and time, using Space Surveillance Center (SSC) and Space Defense Operations Center (SPADOC) techniques and algorithms. The theories that have been evaluated are Simplified General Perturbations (SGP), Simplified General Perturbations 4 (SGP4)/Deep Space Perturbations 4(DP4), the Hoots Analytic Dynamic Ephemeris (HANDE) theory, the Semianalytic Liu Theory (SALT), and the Draper Semianalytic Satellite Theory (DSST). For comparison, we have also evaluated a high-accuracy Special Perturbations (SP) model.