Estimation of launch vehicle tracking error due to radio refraction

Abstract

This paper discusses the error estimation in radar measurement data obtained while tracking a launch vehicle. It is known that typical radar measurement data consist of the true positional or orientation information on the vehicle being tracked, random noise and a deterministic bias due to radio refraction. Unlike previous research works, this paper proposes a tracking-error (mainly bias) estimation method solely based on the single radar measurement with no aid of other measurement such as GPS. The proposed method has been verified with real measurement data obtained while tracking the KSLV-I launch vehicle.