A Test-as-You-Fly X-ray Pulsar Navigation Capability for Advanced Exploration Systems
Project Description
This project will establish a hardware-in-the-loop testing capability for X-ray Pulsar Navigation (XNAV) in the context of the Johnson Space Center (JSC) Orion Optical Navigation (OON) testbed, and to identity a practical XNAV sensor package targeting cis-lunar operations for Orion EM2/3 and lunar habitat modules. This effort will leverage software developments from the Station Explorer for Navigation and Timing Technology (SEXTANT) and hardware concepts from the Neutron-star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) mission.
More »Anticipated Benefits
Missions operating far from Earth including crewed and uncrewed missions need to operate and navigate autonomously with minimal support from the ground.
A XNAV sensor complements other on-board optical navigation sensors, provide an accurate timing source for Mars and deep space missions.
In addition, the XNAV sensor can serve a dual purpose, as a science sensor aiding the astrophysics (X-ray astronomy) community in performing science outside of LEO.
More »Project Library
Primary U.S. Work Locations and Key Partners
| Organizations Performing Work | Role | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
Goddard Space Flight Center
(GSFC)
|
Lead Organization | NASA Center | Greenbelt, Maryland |
Johnson Space Center
(JSC)
|
Supporting Organization | NASA Center | Houston, Texas |
Primary U.S. Work Locations
-
Maryland
-
Texas
