NPS State Vector Analysis and Relative Motion Plotting Software for STS-51

Abstract

This thesis outlines the objectives, structure, and operation of the software designed to meet requirements set forth by Development Test Objective 700-6 for the space shuttle Discovery mission STS-51. The primary goals were the comparison of state vector information produced by GPS sources and Discovery's inertial navigation computer, and the real-time display of relative position and rendezvous information between Discovery and a retrievable shuttle pallet satellite. In-flight and postflight examination of GPS and inertial state vectors provided the first step in the development of GPS as an on-orbit navigation system. Analysis of the Orbiter and target satellite state vectors produced real-time graphical displays of operationally significant data to the Discovery's flight crew during rendezvous and proximity operations.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 1994
Accession Number
ADA282909

Entities

People

  • Lee A. Barker

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Apogees
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Cartesian Coordinates
  • Computer Programming
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Coordinate Systems
  • Flight Crews
  • Global Positioning Systems
  • Grids
  • Inertial Measurement Units
  • Inertial Navigation
  • Inertial Navigation Systems
  • Navigation
  • Relative Motion
  • Spacecraft
  • World Geodetic System

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering.
  • Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Technology.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris