Attitude Determination of Orbiting Objects from Lightcurve Measurements

This paper describes a method based on virtual reality tools to achieve the attitude determination of an orbiting object using lightcurve measurements. A virtual model of the orbiting object is propagated in order to reproduce its lightcurve. The differences between the real and simulated lightcurves are used as the cost function to be minimized through a multiobjective genetic algorithm. Lightcurve measurements in different spectral bands, both with monostatic and multistatic optical observations can be used. The method is applied to the real measurements taken from Cerro Tololo and Flagstaff Observatory of the spacecraft GSAT3. A set of attitude parameters compatible with the measured lightcurves is identified and discussed.