Application of GPS for Hermes rendez-vous navigation
Abstract
This paper investigates the possibility of applying the Navstar GPS for rendezvous navigation and docking in LEO, by performing an error analysis on a typical rendezvous mission between the European spaceplane Hermes and the Columbus Free Flying Laboratory. The error model included nondynamic as well as dynamic error sources, such as the gravity field, drag, and GPS ephemerides. In addition, the effects of failures and degraded tracking capabilities were investigated. Results of simulations show that the Navstar GPS can be extremely useful for the navigation of rendezvous missions.
- Publication:
-
Dresden International Astronautical Federation Congress
- Pub Date:
- October 1990
- Bibcode:
- 1990dres.iafcT....H
- Keywords:
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- Global Positioning System;
- Hermes Manned Spaceplane;
- Orbital Rendezvous;
- Space Navigation;
- Columbus Space Station;
- Orbit Calculation;
- Orbital Position Estimation;
- Spacecraft Communication;
- Space Communications, Spacecraft Communications, Command and Tracking