A document discusses the continuing development of a navigation system that would enable a spacecraft to approach Mars on a trajectory precise enough to enable the spacecraft to land within 1 km of a specified location on the Martian surface. This degree of accuracy would represent an order-of-magnitude improvement over that now obtained in radiometric tracking by use of the Deep Space Network. The navigation system would be implemented largely in software running in digital processors in the Electra transceiver, the Mars Network's standard radio transceiver, that would be in both the approaching spacecraft and Mars Network orbiter. The Mars Network is an ad hoc constellation of existing and future Mars science orbiters and dedicated telecommunication orbiters that has been established as a communication and navigation infrastructure to support the exploration of Mars. The software would exploit the sensory and data-processing capabilities of the Electra transceivers to gather Doppler-shift and other radiometric tracking data and process those data into trajectories data that would be accurate to within 0.3 km at the point of entry into the Martian atmosphere (as needed to land within 1 km of a target surface location).
This work was done by Courtney Duncan and Todd Ely of Caltech and E. Glenn Lightsey of the University of Texas at Austin for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. For more information, download the Technical Support Package (free white paper) at www.techbriefs.com/tsp under the Electronics/Computers category.
The software used in this innovation is available for commercial licensing. Please contact Karina Edmonds of the California Institute of Technology at (626) 395-2322. Refer to NPO-43092.
This Brief includes a Technical Support Package (TSP).
Mars-Approach Navigation Using In Situ Orbiters
(reference NPO-43092) is currently available for download from the TSP library.
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Overview
The document is a Technical Support Package from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) concerning a software application titled "Mars Approach Navigation Using In Situ Orbiters," identified by NTR Number 43092. This application is part of NASA's efforts to enhance navigation techniques for Mars missions, utilizing in-situ orbiters to improve the accuracy and efficiency of spacecraft approaching the Martian surface.
The Technical Support Package is designed to disseminate information about aerospace-related developments that have potential technological, scientific, or commercial applications. It is part of NASA's Commercial Technology Program, which aims to make advancements in aerospace technology accessible to a broader audience, including industry and research institutions.
The document emphasizes the importance of compliance with U.S. export regulations, indicating that the information may contain proprietary data from Caltech/JPL. It also includes a disclaimer stating that neither the U.S. Government nor any representatives assume liability for the use of the information provided, nor do they guarantee that such use will be free from privately owned rights.
For those seeking further information or assistance regarding the software application or related research and technology, the document provides contact details for the Innovative Technology Assets Management at JPL. Interested parties can reach out via email at iaoffice@jpl.nasa.gov or through the provided mailing address in Pasadena, California.
Overall, the document serves as a resource for understanding the advancements in Mars navigation technology, highlighting NASA's commitment to innovation in space exploration and the potential for these technologies to have broader applications beyond their initial purpose. It reflects the ongoing efforts of NASA to collaborate with various sectors to promote the development and utilization of aerospace technologies.
