A Study of Satellite Navigation, Dilution of Precision, and Positioning Techniques for Use On and Around the Moon

John H. MacNicol and John F. Raquet

Abstract:	The National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA) is examining different approaches to achieve an accurate, real-time, on-board navigation capability for spacecraft in lunar orbit, in transit to or from the moon, and for personnel on the lunar surface. This work addresses using a lunar satellite navigation system to solve the navigation problem in the vicinity of the moon. Dilution of precision is the figure of merit used to determine geometric effects on the accuracy of the system for a given satellite constellation and the measurement types used. Ten satellite constellations, using two measurement types (direct ranging and time-difference-of-arrival), are analyzed for numerous user locations on the moon. The use of terrestrial and Earth-orbiting assets to augment the lunar constellations is also investigated. Sensitivity analyses are accomplished to determine the effect on the position solution accuracy of additional measurements, reduced measurements, and different combinations of measurement types.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 58th Annual Meeting of The Institute of Navigation and CIGTF 21st Guidance Test Symposium (2002) June 24 - 26, 2002 Hyatt Regency Hotel Albuquerque, NM
Pages:	506 - 515
Cite this article:	MacNicol, John H., Raquet, John F., "A Study of Satellite Navigation, Dilution of Precision, and Positioning Techniques for Use On and Around the Moon," Proceedings of the 58th Annual Meeting of The Institute of Navigation and CIGTF 21st Guidance Test Symposium (2002), Albuquerque, NM, June 2002, pp. 506-515.
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