Differential Algebra for Space Situational Awareness: Improving Capabilities of Operational Cataloguing Systems

Orbital uncertainty propagation is essential for space situational awareness tasks such as tracking, conjunction assessment, and anomaly detection. While linear models and Monte Carlo simulations have traditionally been used, their effectiveness is limited by the nonlinear nature of orbital dynamics, leading to precision and computational issues. This paper tries to address these challenges through the application of Differential Algebra, highlighting its applications in orbital mechanics, outlining its strengths and limitations, and suggesting future research directions to advance the field of uncertainty propagation in space situational awareness operations.