Session
Session VI: Advanced Techonologies—Section 1
Abstract
Satellite navigation systems rely heavily upon the Global Positioning System (GPS). GPS provides unrivaled performance in measurements of satellite ephemerides. Due to the increasing number of GPS system threats other options are now being evaluated, these new technologies are designed to augment or back-up the GPS system and be applied on other deep space missions. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is developing one such navigation system, referred to as XNAV - “X-ray Source Based NAVigation for Autonomous Position Determination”. Theoretically, this system can use celestial X-ray sources to determine spacecraft attitude and position knowledge anywhere in the solar system. DARPA has contracted with Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. (BATC), Los Alamos National Laboratories (LANL), Johns Hopkins University – Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU-APL), and the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) to develop a celestial navigation system for an on-orbit demonstration. The XNAV program is currently half-way through the 18-month feasibility study. The goal of the XNAV program is to prove the feasibility and viability of this approach through a culmination of detailed analyses and hardware demonstrations. This paper will provide an overview of the XNAV system and its expected capabilities; identify the development milestones; examine possible applications; and provide a top-level technical approach.
Presentation Slides
Overview of the XNAV Program, X-ray Navigation using Celestial Sources
Satellite navigation systems rely heavily upon the Global Positioning System (GPS). GPS provides unrivaled performance in measurements of satellite ephemerides. Due to the increasing number of GPS system threats other options are now being evaluated, these new technologies are designed to augment or back-up the GPS system and be applied on other deep space missions. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is developing one such navigation system, referred to as XNAV - “X-ray Source Based NAVigation for Autonomous Position Determination”. Theoretically, this system can use celestial X-ray sources to determine spacecraft attitude and position knowledge anywhere in the solar system. DARPA has contracted with Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. (BATC), Los Alamos National Laboratories (LANL), Johns Hopkins University – Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU-APL), and the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) to develop a celestial navigation system for an on-orbit demonstration. The XNAV program is currently half-way through the 18-month feasibility study. The goal of the XNAV program is to prove the feasibility and viability of this approach through a culmination of detailed analyses and hardware demonstrations. This paper will provide an overview of the XNAV system and its expected capabilities; identify the development milestones; examine possible applications; and provide a top-level technical approach.
