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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.
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This paper discusses the design, navigation and the Monte Carlo error analyses that were critical to the design of this landing scenario. Also described is the reconstruction of the landing trajectory using radio metric, optical landmark and laser ranging tracking data, which determined the characteristics of the landing to be well within the error analyses.
The problem of tuning trajectory determination models for interplanetary navigation is a complex task requiring an intensive search of multiple dynamical and nondynamical models that yield trajectory solutions with minimal errors.
In this paper we describe a methodology for long-distance navigation that meets the goal of finding an accurate method for tracking the robot position in the environment.
This paper describes fuzzy logic techniques used in a hierarchical behavior-based architecture for robot navigation.
The MSP 2001 project will send an orbiter, a lander, and a rover to Mars in the 2001 opportunity. The lander will demonstrate precision landing at Mars by utilizing improved approach navigation and hypersonic aeromaneuvering.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is implementing a satellite-based navigation system for aircraft using the Global Positioning System (GPS).
The Mars Global Surveyor was successfully launched from Cape Kennedy on November 7, 1996. This paper discusses the details of the various navigation phases of the mission.
Future plans for planetary exploration currently include using multiple spacecraft to simultaneously explore one planet. This never before encountered situation places new demands on tracking systems used to support navigation. One possible solution to the problem of heavy ground resource conflicts is the use of multi-spacecraft coherent radio metric data, also known as bent-pipe data.
improvements in computational capability and DSN technology have renewed interest in examining the possibility of using one-way Doppler data alone to navigate interplanetary spacecraft. The one-way data can be formulated as the standard difference-count Doppler or as phase measurements, and the data can be received at a single station or differenced if obtained simultaneously at two stations. A covariance analysis is performed which analyzes the accuracy obtainable by combinations of one-way Doppler data and compared with similar results using standard tow-way Doppler and range. The sample interplanetary trajectory used was that of the Mars Pathfinder mission to Mars. It is shown that differenced one-way data is capable of determining the angular position of the spacecraft to fairly high accuracy, but has relatively poor sensitivity to the range. When combined with single station data, the position dispersions are roughly an order of magnitude larger in range and comparable in angular position as compared to dispersions obtained with standard data two-way types. It was also found that the phase formulation is less sensitive to data weight variations and data coverage than the differenced-count Doppler formulation.
The Galileo mission includes an Io flyby, insertion in Jupiter orbit, and ten close satellite flybys at altitudes as low as 250 km. The required orbit determination and navigation are described.
Doppler shift measurements derived from closed-loop radio tracking of distant spacecraft by ground stations of the Deep Space Network (DSN) are one of the principal means used for interplanetary navigation.
The upcoming launch of the solar electric propulsion (SEP) mission New Millennium Deep Space 1 and proposed future SEP missions such as Pluto Express necessitates an analysis of the operational issues related to the navigation of low-thrust missions.
The Deep Space-1 (DS-1) mission to be launched in 1998 will use an autonomous navigation system to guide the spacecraft on a low thrust trajectory to flybys of an asteriod and a comet.
The Global Positioning System (GPS) is widely used for satellite positioning and navigation, and for numerous geolocation activities.
This paper presents covariance and propulsive maneuver analyses performed to determine the impact on navigation performance of parameters such as: the addition of deltaDOR measurements, tracking data schedule, and maneuver execution errors.
This paper discusses the navigation flight experience for the Mars Pathfinder interplanetary cruise.