Design of Deep Space Autonomous Navigation System Based on Spacecraft Networking

Abstract

In order to reduce the heavy burden on the ground-based network，as well as increasing navigation efficiency for deep space explorers，a method of autonomous navigation based on Spacecraft Networking is proposed in this article. The network comprises two types of spacecraft，namely，basis spacecraft and customer spacecraft. The basis spacecraft implement autonomous navigation by observing X-ray pulsar，inter-ranging，etc. The basis spacecraft provides the standard basis for the whole network，and a customer spacecraft determines its position by communicating with the basis spacecraft or with the other customer spacecraft. The specific scheme of Spacecraft Networking is illustrated by an example of Earth to Moon transfer mission. The configuration scheme and the navigation method of the basis spacecraft are analyzed in this paper，and the navigation method for single and multi-tiered customer spacecraft is presented in this paper. Simulations demonstrate that by measuring X-ray pulsar and inter-ranging links，the basis spacecraft can reach the accuracy of 20 m. When observing the basis spacecraft，the customer spacecraft in Earth to Moon transfer orbit can reach the accuracy of better than 30 m. Autonomous navigation based on Spacecraft Networking is feasible and can significantly benefit China’s Space-based navigation system.

Keywords

spacecraft networking / autonomous navigation / pulsar / Earth to Moon transfer mission