Integrated navigation and communication system for use in distributed spacecraft sytems

• Main Authors: DEVEREUX WILLIAM S, STADTER PATRICK A
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 19.12.2002
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: AIRCRAFT; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION ORRERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; MEASURING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICS; RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; TESTING; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR

An integrated navigation and communication system that enables distributed spacecraft system operations. The system is a modular, extensible system that supports science operations among multiple, distributed spacecraft by implementing the essential functions of navigation, communication and control. Distributed spacecraft systems, also called formation flying systems, extend the capabilities of single-spacecraft missions by providing a platform for complex sensing tasks, including multipoint observation, co-observation, and distributed apertures. To accomplish these tasks, the system enables spacecrafts within a distributed spacecraft system to communicate science and coordination information, to determine relative position, velocity and time for command and control operations, and to operate in a coordinated manner to achieve common mission goals.