Optical communications systems that are being developed for deep-space missions could also be used to perform deep-space navigation. A two-way optical communications system could be modified to support ranging, and the laser signal emitted by a spacecraft could be tracked against background stars to perform plane-of-sky observables. We have been analyzing a number of deep-space navigation scenarios to understand the advantages and disadvantages of using optical communication systems for navigation. Our objectives were to evaluate the performance achievable with optical systems, and to study under what circumstances these systems could be sufficient to navigate the mission, reducing the requirements for radio systems to perhaps just to be a backup for emergency communications.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Using optical communications links for deep-space navigation




    Publication date :

    2017-11-01


    Size :

    1703334 byte




    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English



    Using Optical Communications Links for Deep-Space Navigation

    Karimi, Reza R. / McCandless, Sarah Elizabeth / Peng, Michael et al. | NTRS | 2017


    Deep-space navigation using optical communications systems

    Karimi, Reza Raymond / McCandless, Sarah Elizabeth / Martin-Mur, Tomas | NTRS | 2017


    Deep-Space Navigation Using Optical Communications Systems

    Karimi, Reza / McCandless, Sarah Elizabeth / Martin-Mur, Tomas | NTRS | 2017


    Deep‐Space Communications and Navigation Series

    Hamkins, Jon ;Simon, Marvin K. | Wiley | 2006


    Autonomy for Deep Space Communications and Navigation

    Chang, Susan / Levesque, Michael / Wyatt, E. Jay et al. | NTRS | 2021