X-ray Pulsar Navigation Algorithms and Testbed for SEXTANT

The Station Explorer for X-ray Timing and Navigation Technology (SEXTANT) is a NASA funded technologydemonstration. SEXTANT will, for the first time, demonstrate real-time, on-board X-ray Pulsar-based Navigation (XNAV), a significant milestone in the quest to establish a GPS-like navigation capabili...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inNASA Center for AeroSpace Information (CASI). Conference Proceedings
Main Authors Winternitz, Luke M B, Hasouneh, Monther A, Grendreau, Keith C, Mitchell, Jason W, Valdez, Jennifer E, Price, Samuel R, Semper, Sean R, Yu, Wayne H, Ray, Paul S, Wood, Kent S, Arzoumanian, Zaven
Format Conference Proceeding
LanguageEnglish
Published Hampton NASA/Langley Research Center 07.03.2015
Subjects
Algorithms
Global positioning systems
GPS
Pulsars
Satellite navigation systems
Solar system
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Summary:The Station Explorer for X-ray Timing and Navigation Technology (SEXTANT) is a NASA funded technologydemonstration. SEXTANT will, for the first time, demonstrate real-time, on-board X-ray Pulsar-based Navigation (XNAV), a significant milestone in the quest to establish a GPS-like navigation capability available throughout our Solar System and beyond. This paper describes the basic design of the SEXTANT system with a focus on core models and algorithms, and the design and continued development of the GSFC X-ray Navigation Laboratory Testbed (GXLT) with its dynamic pulsar emulation capability. We also present early results from GXLT modeling of the combined NICER X-ray timing instrument hardware and SEXTANT flight software algorithms.