Simulation Analysis of Precise Orbit Determination of Cislunar Space Probe Based on Two-Way Range-Rate and Laser Ranging

Abstract

In the future, cislunar space will become a hot spot for human space science research. Precise orbit determination of cislunar space probes can provide a guarantee for the implementation of exploration missions and space debris early warning. Currently traditional two-way range-rate observation are dominant tracking mode for the cislunar space probes. High-precision laser ranging is a potentially important tool to carry out orbit determination in cislunar space. By designing simulation schemes using only two-way range-rate and the combination of two-way range-rate and laser ranging, the orbit determination accuracies of the circumlunar orbits and the Earth–Moon libration points’ orbits are compared and analyzed, the results show that the incorporation of laser ranging data obviously improves the orbit determination accuracy. The laser ranging data enhances the precision of orbit determination for both the circumlunar circular and large eccentricity elliptical orbits, achieving accuracy within tens of centimeters. Similarly, it refines the accuracy of the distant retrograde orbit (DRO) and orbits around the Earth–Moon libration points to within tens of meters. The more laser ranging data we collect, the more significant the improvement in accuracy will be. It can be considered that laser ranging has an important application value in the precise orbit determination of cislunar space probes.