LAUNCH DETECTION SATELLITE SYSTEM ENGINEERING ERROR ANALYSIS

An orbiting detector of infrared energy may be used to detect the rock et plumes generated by ballistic missiles during the powered segment o f their trajectory, By measuring the angular directions of arrival of the detections over several observations, the trajectory properties, l aunch location, and impact area may be estimated using a nonlinear lea st squares iteration procedure. Observations from two or more sensors may be combined to form stereoscopic lines of sight, increasing the ac curacy of the algorithm, A computer model is presented of an estimatio n algorithm that determines what parameter, or combination of paramete rs, will have a significant effect on the error of the tactical parame ter estimation. This model generates observation data and then, using the data, produces an estimate of the tactical parameters, i.e., the t ime, position, and heading at launch and burnout, and an impact time a nd position. For the expected range of values of each of the error sou rces, the line-of-sight errors, a combination of focal-plane and attit ude errors, had the greatest effect on the estimation of the launch an d impact points.