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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/T18608/01
Title: Applying National High Performance Computing Services to Spacecraft Force Modelling for System Design, Orbit Determination and Prediction
Principal Investigator: Ziebart, Professor M
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
NASA
Department: Geomatic Engineering
Organisation: UCL
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 04 January 2005 Ends: 03 July 2007 Value (£): 96,547
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Eng. Dynamics & Tribology
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Aerospace, Defence and Marine
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
The development, operation and applications of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) and Low Earth Orbiter (LEO) spacecraft require the modelling and calculation of precise orbits so that the spacecraft positions can be accurately predicted and determined. Determination of the trajectories relies, in turn, upon force modelling, and the significant forces include:Solar radiation pressure, produced by the impact of electro-magnetic radiation from the Sun striking the spacecraftAlbedo, the force due to EM radiation reflected from, and emitted by, the EarthThermal re-radiation forces, caused by anisotropic radiation of heat from the spacecraft andAtmospheric drag/lift effects, caused by the interaction between the spacecraft and gas/plasma constituents in the atmosphereThe understanding and modelling of these non-conservative forces is currently a limiting factor in orbit determination for spacecraft missions where both the predicted and post-processed position of the spacecraft underpins fundamentally applications to Earth science and engineering. These range from measurement in changes of sea level, to detection of regional crustal deformation to real time orbit determination for terrestrial and space GNSS applications. The PI and his group have developed a suite of software utilities to attack these force modelling problems that are recognised as the leading techniques in the world for dealing with complex, realistic models of the spacecraft response to its environment. The group has been invited to participate in several international experiments that involve modelling complexity that has never been attempted before, and this proposal seeks to migrate the groups' computational capabilities to the high end computing environment in order to push the envelope of its modelling techniques and to enable forms of analysis that are currently impossible using desktop facilities.
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