Three advanced Pioneer missions to the outer planets are analyzed to assess midcourse velocity and navigation requirements. Selecting the results of the Saturn/Uranus mission as representative values for the three missions, the Earth-Saturn midcourse mean plus 3-sigma velocity correction is 80 m/sec. Earth-based radio-only tracking results in a navigational error of 2000 km at Saturn which in turn requires a mean plus 3-sigma velocity correction of 140 m/sec on the Saturn-Uranus leg to nullify this error mapped to Uranus. In contrast to these figures, if a proposed optical V-slit sensor is incorporated into the spacecraft navigational system, a Saturn B-plane error of only 350 km results with a corresponding required mean plus 3-sigma post-Saturn velocity correction of 23.2 m/sec. An 8000 km miss at Uranus results from radio-only tracking at Saturn which can be considerably reduced to 1400 km by utilizing the optical sensor during the Saturn flyby.


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    Title :

    Advanced Pioneer guidance and navigation requirements for outer planet missions


    Contributors:
    Paul, C. K. (author) / Russell, R. K. (author) / Ellis, J. (author)

    Conference:

    Astrodynamics Conference ; 1973 ; Vail, CO, US


    Publication date :

    1973-07-01


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English


    Keywords :