Development of shape estimation of space target based on lightcurve inversion

Shape and attitude estimation based on lightcurve inversion provide a new technological approach for space target surveillance systems. Firstly, the necessity of space target information inversion based on lightcurve is discussed. Secondly, the performance of the main three methods of shape estimation are comprehensively summarized, and the method of shape estimation based on nonlinear filter technology is the main development direction in the future. Then, the advantages and disadvantages of nonlinear filter technology are analyzed. Finally, aiming at the problem of inversion, we point out the next research and development direction of fusing multiple sensor information based on the particle filter algorithm with better real-time performance to inverse more complex geometrical shape and surface materials of space target.