ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Orbit determination

Imagine you're throwing a ball in the air. You can see it go up, and you can see it come back down. But what if you wanted to know exactly where that ball was at every moment it was in the air? That's what orbit determination is all about - figuring out exactly where a object is located as it moves through space.

To do this, scientists use lots of math and measurements. They can measure things like the object's speed, direction, and position, and use that information to figure out its path through space. This is called its orbit.

But the universe is a big place, and there are a lot of things that can affect an object's orbit. For example, planets and stars have gravity, which can pull on an object and change its path through space. Scientists have to take into account all of these factors to get an accurate picture of an object's orbit.

Orbit determination is used for all kinds of things, from tracking satellites to ensuring spacecraft land on the right planet. It's a really important tool for anyone interested in exploring space, and it allows us to learn more about our universe than ever before.