A Statistical Optimizing Navigation Procedure for Space Flight
Richard H. Battin · ARS journal · 1962
In a typical self-contained space navigation system, celestial observation data are gathered and processed to produce est imated velocity corrections. The results of this paper provide a basis for determining the celestial measurements and the proper t imes to implement velocity correct ions . Fundamenta l to the navigation system is a procedure for processing celestial measurement data which permits incorporation of each individual measurement as i t is made in order to provide an improved es t imate of posit ion and velocity. In order to opt imize the navigation, a statistical evaluation of a number of alternative courses of action is made. The various alternatives, which form the basis of a decision process, concern the following: 1) which star and planet combinat ion provides the best available observation; 2) whether the observation gives a sufficient reduct ion in the predicted target error to warrant making the measurement ; and 3) whether the uncerta inty in the indicated velocity correction is a small enough percentage of the correction itself to justify an engine re-start and propellant expenditure. Numerical results are presented which i l lustrate the effectiveness of this approach to the space navigation problem.