Recent advances of practical techniques for nonlinear uncertainty propagation in orbital dynamics

This paper reviews the recent advances of practical techniques within different method frameworks for improved uncertainty propagation in orbital dynamics. The uncertainty propagation problem has been explored in many applications in orbital dynamics, such as orbit determination, relative motion, space debris removal, and small body exploration. In recent years, to further improve the accuracy and efficiency of uncertainty propagation, many practical techniques have been presented within different method frameworks. Among these, most techniques are within the frameworks of the continuity equation, the Gaussian mixture model, and the surrogate model. To facilitate the research work for nonlinear uncertainty propagation in orbital dynamics, a classification of the present method frameworks and the practical techniques for improved uncertainty propagation within different method frameworks is given and discussed in this paper.