Navigation in space

Question

Navigation in space

Recently, the space theme has been very popular on Habré, so I have a question in connection with this. How is navigation in space? How does the MCC understand where in space the spacecraft is located, how and by how much it needs to change its orbit, and how do they understand that the change was successful?

Answer 1

The so-called astroinertial navigation is used - look here . Roughly speaking, this is an ordinary inertial navigation system, as ipswitch noted , but only supplemented with a special device to compensate for accumulating errors.

Answer 2

Navigation is carried out by known celestial objects. Constellations, pulsars...

Answer 3

The inertial navigation system is also very popular.
Data on the acceleration of the spacecraft is taken along all three axes using accelerometers. Integrating the equation of motion, we obtain the speed and coordinate (position in space along the given axis).
Thus, the definition of three coordinates = the solution of a system of three equations.

Answer 4

Satellites flying near the earth can be guided by the infrared vertical - it always looks at the earth. The position in space according to the stars is very convenient by the way. Unlike many other sources of coordinates, stars cannot be faked or drowned out. Plus inertial navigation systems.

Answer 5

Are GPS satellites used to navigate in space if they are higher up? and is there any point in navigating these satellites?

Answer 6

The angle of rotation is measured using a gyroscope. And the rest is visible with the help of radio navigation.

Answer 7

In addition to the above, external trajectory measurements from ground measuring points are widely used. Typical equipment of these points is radars measuring azimuth, elevation and range to the object, or range and speed. For these locators to work, an appropriate transponder must be installed on the satellite.
Measurement sessions are planned, transmitted to the measurement points, the measured data are merged into the collection and processing center, where the trajectory is built and the corrections are calculated.