Other
Scientific paper
Jun 1981
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1981tdar.nasa...22c&link_type=abstract
In its The Telecommun. and Data Acquisition Rept. p 22-25 (SEE N81-27123 18-12)
Other
Interplanetary Navigation, Pulsars, Spacecraft Tracking, Deep Space Network, Radio Navigation
Scientific paper
Approximately one dozen X-ray pulsars are presently known which emit strong stable pulses with periods of 0.7 to approximately 1000 s. By comparing the arrival times of these pulses at a spacecraft and at the Earth (via an Earth orbiting satellite), a three dimensional position of the spacecraft can be determined. One day of data from a small onboard X-ray detector yields a three dimensional position accurate to approximately 150 km. This accuracy is independent of spacecraft distance from the Earth. Present techniques for determining the two spacecraft coordinates other than range measure angles and thus degrade with increasing spacecraft range. Thus navigation using X-ray pulsars will always be superior to present techniques in measuring these two coordinates for sufficiently distant spacecraft. At present, the break even point occurs near the orbit of Jupiter. The Crab pulsar can also be used to obtain one transverse coordinate with an accuracy of approximately 20 km.
Butman Stanley A.
Chester Thomas J.
No associations
LandOfFree
Navigation using X-ray pulsers does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Navigation using X-ray pulsers, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Navigation using X-ray pulsers will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-995979