Spacecraft Pose Estimation Based on Different Camera Models

Abstract Spacecraft pose estimation is an important technology to maintain or change the spacecraft orientation in space. For spacecraft pose estimation, when two spacecraft are relatively distant, the depth information of the space point is less than that of the measuring distance, so the camera model can be seen as a weak perspective projection model. In this paper, a spacecraft pose estimation algorithm based on four symmetrical points of the spacecraft outline is proposed. The analytical solution of the spacecraft pose is obtained by solving the weak perspective projection model, which can satisfy the requirements of the measurement model when the measurement distance is long. The optimal solution is obtained from the weak perspective projection model to the perspective projection model, which can meet the measurement requirements when the measuring distance is small. The simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can obtain better results, even though the noise is large.