Results from a GPS Shuttle Training Aircraft Flight Test

Penny E. Saunders, Moises N. Montez, Michael C. Robel, David N. Feuerstein, Mike E. Aerni, S. Sangchat, Lon M. Rater, Scott P. Cryan, Lydia R. Salazar, Mark P. Leach, Michael A. Cardoza, Brian W. Tolman, William M. Lear

Abstract:	A series of Global Positioning System (GPS) flight tests were performed on a National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA’s) Shuttle Training Aircraft (STA). The objective of the tests was to evaluate the performance of GPS-based navigation during simulated Shuttle approach and landings for possible replacement of the current Shuttle landing navigation aid, the Microwave Scanning Beam Landing System (MSBLS). In particular, varying levels of sensor data integration would be evaluated to determine the minimum amount of integration required to meet the navigation accuracy requirements for a Shuttle landing. Four flight tests consisting of 8 to 9 simulation runs per flight test were performed at White Sands Space Harbor in April 1991. Three different GPS receivers were tested. The STA inertial navigation, tactical air navigation, and MSBLS sensor data were also recorded during each run. C-band radar aided laser trackers were utilized to provide the STA “truth” trajectory.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 4th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 1991) September 11 - 13, 1991 Albuquerque, NM
Pages:	423 - 432
Cite this article:	Saunders, Penny E., Montez, Moises N., Robel, Michael C., Feuerstein, David N., Aerni, Mike E., Sangchat, S., Rater, Lon M., Cryan, Scott P., Salazar, Lydia R., Leach, Mark P., Cardoza, Michael A., Tolman, Brian W., Lear, William M., "Results from a GPS Shuttle Training Aircraft Flight Test," Proceedings of the 4th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 1991), Albuquerque, NM, September 1991, pp. 423-432.
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