ORCID Identifier(s)

0000-0001-6565-1056

Graduation Semester and Year

2018

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering

Department

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

First Advisor

Kamesh Subbarao

Abstract

Navigation systems play an important role for autonomous spacecraft. Earth based navigation systems such as GPS provide accurate positioning for orbiting spacecraft. In the case of lunar orbit, GPS is not available so other navigation techniques have to be used. This thesis proposes a novel idea to use Laser Ranging Retroreflectors, placed on the Moon's surface during the Apollo program, as a means of providing position information to an orbiting autonomous spacecraft. An Inertial Navigation System consisting of fusion of LRRR position data and Inertial Measurement Unit providing gyro and accelerometer data will be utilized during orbit about the Moon. Prior arriving in a lunar orbit, celestial navigation using the stars will provide positioning information as the vehicle translates along a lunar intercept path. The entire lunar operational profile will be evaluated using nonlinear filter techniques (Extended Kalman Filter and Unscented Kalman Filter). Trade-offs between filter accuracy, computational cost and ease of implementation will be assessed.

Keywords

Celestial navigation, Cislunar navigation, Lunar navigation, Extended Kalman Filter, Unscented Kalman Filter, Laser ranging retroreflector

Disciplines

Aerospace Engineering | Engineering | Mechanical Engineering

Comments

Degree granted by The University of Texas at Arlington

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