Detection of non-cooperative target manoeuvres in space based on collaborative multi-star observations

Space targets with communication failure present non-cooperative characteristics, and in order to ensure the safety of on-orbit spacecraft, it is necessary to sense the motion state of non-cooperative targets in long-distance space. In this regard, this paper proposes a motion detection method for space targets based on IMM-EKF. Multiple observation satellites are used to observe the target at the same time, and the target altitude and azimuth information measured from multiple directions are used as the observation information; the IMM algorithm combined with different manoeuvre models is used to estimate and track the target's motion pattern, and the EKF algorithm is used to filter and predict the target's position and velocity. The simulation results show that the method can effectively detect and track the manoeuvre behaviour of space targets with high accuracy and robustness, which is of great significance for the safe maintenance of space targets.