Recursive filter initialization.

Abstract

Description of an initialization technique which partially accounts for the interrelation between the true-state vector errors when recursive filtering is applied in space navigation systems. The technique reduces the undesirable transient effects of the first few measurements and inhibits filter divergence when the interval between measurements is inordinately large. The key feature of this technique is the inclusion of the effect of a number of pseudo-measurements of certain orbital parameters into the initial covariance matrix. The pseudo-measurement technique has been shown to be useful when reinitialization of the error covariance matrix is required to prevent filter divergence.