The approximate state transition matrix based on non-orthogonal decomposition and its application in orbit determination

The Unit Vector Method (UVM) is an orbit determination method extensively applied. In this paper, the UVM and classical Differential Orbit Improvement (DOI) are compared, and a fusion method is given for the orbit determination with different kind data. Based on non-orthogonal decomposition of position and velocity vectors, an approximation scheme is constructed to calculate the state transition matrix. This method simplifies the calculation of the approximate state transition matrix, analyzes the convergence mechanism of the UVM, and makes clear the defect of weight strategy in UVM. Results of orbit the determination with simulating and real data show that this method has good numerical stability and rational weight distribution.