Method and apparatus for ground target precision orientation for satellite image acquisition

Abstract

Provided are a method and apparatus for ground target precision orientation for satellite image acquisition, in which the method includes: receiving a desired satellite position (P) for imaging from a ground station, and receiving a ground plan imaging time (T) or an algorithm execution time (T) from the ground station, in which the ground plan imaging time (T) is calculated according to the desired satellite position (P) for imaging at a ground-based orbit propagator, and the algorithm execution time (T) is set to be earlier than the ground plan imaging time (T) by a predetermined amount of time; and determining, based on a position error (E) calculated by using a difference between the desired satellite position (P) for imaging and the predicted satellite position (Q) output from the satellite-based orbit propagator, a closest satellite position (Q) and a closest satellite time (T) corresponding to when the satellite is closest to the desired satellite position (P) for imaging, and determining a corrected maneuvering attitude ({right arrow over (e)},θ) for orienting the line-of-sight vector of an image capturing payload of the satellite to a ground target at the closest satellite position (Q).