DIDCOT, England – Space orbital analysis experts at the United Kingdom Space Agency in Didcot, England, needed sophisticated computers and software to help analyze how objects like and satellites move and behave in space. They found a solution from the RTX Corp. Raytheon UK segment in Harlow, England.
Officials of the UK Space Agency have awarded a contract to Raytheon UK to provide orbital analysis for the UK's Space Domain Awareness mission to ensure the UK can operate safely and securely in congested space.
This mission involves detecting, tracking, analyzing, and understanding man-made and natural objects in orbit around the Earth to protect satellites and other spacecraft, avoid collisions, and mitigate the risks of space debris and re-entry hazards.
The UK Space Agency will gain access to the Raytheon UK NORSSTrack software, which enhances orbital analysis by mapping and tracking satellites, monitoring potential collisions and debris, assessing re-entries, and providing data for decision-making.
Analysis and response
Analysts will be based at a National Space Operations Centre facility at High Wycombe Royal Air Force Base, and will deliver an analysis and response capability for U.K. space operations.
Orbital analysis is the study and evaluation of spacecraft orbits and trajectories using orbital mechanics. It involves assessing the motion of objects in space under the influence of forces like gravity, atmospheric drag, and thrust to understand how orbits evolve and to ensure mission goals can be achieved safely and efficiently.
It uses physics and mathematics to model and predict the paths that satellites, rockets, or other spacecraft follow around planets and moons. Space analysis helps evaluate orbit stability, maneuver feasibility, coverage, ground access, and mission requirements.
Tools and data, such as two-line element sets (TLEs) that describe orbits, work with computational models to simulate orbit trajectories, the influence of gravitational effects, and propellant budgets for maneuvers. Space analysis helps ensure spacecraft maintain their orbits, avoid collisions, fulfill mission goals, and optimize fuel use.
Tell me more about orbital analysis ...
- Orbital analysis is the study of how objects like planets, moons, and satellites move in space. Everything in space moves in an orbit, which is like a curved path around a bigger object, such as the Earth orbiting the sun. Scientists use math to track these orbits and predict where objects will be at any given time. They measure things like the speed, direction, and distance of objects to understand their motion. This helps us learn about space, predict when satellites will pass overhead, or even plan missions to other planets.
The enabling electronics technologies necessary for orbital analysis include systems that support data collection, processing, navigation, and communications in the challenging environment of space.
Star trackers, sun sensors, inertial measurement units (IMUs), and cameras provide precise measurements of spacecraft attitude and position necessary for orbit determination.
Specialized embedded computing processors run orbital dynamics algorithms like Kalman filtering in real-time to estimate and predict orbits autonomously. This reduces dependency on ground control and enables swarm or multi-satellite coordination.
Inter-satellite communication links enable spacecraft to exchange information for cooperative navigation and formation flying through sharing measurements and state estimates.
Data processing
Data processors handle sensor inputs to extract bearing angles, range data, and other parameters for autonomous orbit determination. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning help with autonomous decision-making, anomaly detection, and adaptive mission planning without ground intervention.
Radiation-hardened electronics for orbital analysis must be designed to withstand the harsh radiation and thermal environment of space to ensure reliability and longevity. Use of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components integrated with space-grade adaptations supports scalable and cost-effective orbital systems.
These technologies work in concert to collect orbit-related data, run navigation and orbital prediction algorithms, communicate status, and orbit information among spacecraft or ground stations, and enable autonomous operation and maneuvering.
For more information contact Raytheon UK online at www.raytheon.co.uk, or the UK Space Agency at www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-space-agency.
