The Joint Milli-Arcsecond Pathfinder Survey (JMAPS): Mission Overview and Attitude Sensing Applications

Abstract

The Joint Milliarcsecond Pathfinder Survey (JMAPS) is a Department of Navy bright star astrometric all-sky survey scheduled for launch in the 2012 timeframe. Mission objectives include a complete update of star positions for the 2015 epoch to accuracy levels of 1 milliarcsecond (5 nano-radians) for bright stars, as well as demonstration of 10 milliarcsecond attitude determination capability and 50 milli-arcsecond attitude control on-orbit. In the following paper, we describe the general instrument design and expected performance. We also discuss the new mission capabilities enabled by the unprecedented attitude determination accuracy of such an instrument, and focus specifically on the application to long distance (50,000-100,00 km) formation flying and solar system navigation.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2009
Accession Number
ADA513592

Entities

People

  • Bryan N. Dorland
  • Gregory S. Hennessy
  • Rachel P. Dudik
  • Zachary Dugan

Organizations

  • United States Naval Observatory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Asteroids
  • Department Of Defense
  • Earth Orbits
  • Electronics
  • Global Positioning Systems
  • Measurement
  • Navigation
  • Observation
  • Observatories
  • Orbits
  • Satellite Buses
  • Solar System
  • Spacecraft
  • Star Position
  • Star Trackers

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Astronomy/Astrophysics
  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.
  • Robotics and Automation.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Satellites
  • Space - Spacecraft Maneuvers