Autonomous Optical Navigation for Orbits around Earth-Moon Collinear Libration Points

Paper number

IAC-11,C1,8,1,x10955

Author

Mr. Josep Virgili Llop, Cranfield University, United Kingdom

Year

2011

Abstract

The analysis of optical navigation in an Earth-Moon libration point orbit is presented in this
paper. Missions to libration points have been winning momentum during the last decades. Its
unique characteristics make them suitable for a number of operational and scientific goals. The
literature aimed to study dynamics, guidance and control of unstable orbits around collinear
libration points is vast. In particular, several papers deal with the optimization of the delta-
V budget associated to the station-keeping of these orbits. One of the results obtained in the
literature establishes the critical character of the Moon-Earth system in this aspect (1). The
reason for this behavior is twofold: high delta-V cost and short optimal maneuver spacing.

Optical autonomous navigation can address the issue of allowing a more flexible maneuver
design. This technology has been selected to overcome similar difficulties in other critical
scenarios (2). This paper analyzes in detail this solution. A trade-off between different optical
measurement types is performed, assessing t he requirements of the navigation system and
selecting the better option. A whole GNC system is then defined to meet the requirements
imposed by the unstable dynamical environment. This system is comprised of navigation
sensors, navigation software and navigation processor. A discussion of all this three aspects
is provided. Special attention is paid to image processing algorithms and state estimation and
propagation.

Finally, a real simulation of a spacecraft following a halo orbit of the L2 Moon-Earth system is
carried out to assess the actual capabilities of the optical navigation in this scenario.

Bibliography

1. Statistical Analysis of Control Maneuvers in Unstable Orbital Elements. Renault, C.A. and
Scheeres, D.J. 2003, Journal of Guidance, Control and Dynamics, pp. 758-767.2. Autonomous
Optical Navigation for Manned Lunar Missions. Prieto Llanos, T., Gil Fernández, J. and Corral
van Damme, C. Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland : GNC 2008 7th International ESA Conference on
Guidance, Navigation & Control Systems, 2008.

Abstract document

IAC-11,C1,8,1,x10955.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-11,C1,8,1,x10955.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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