Sui Chen - Autonomous Spacecraft Navigation Based on X-ray Pulsar Signals скачать в хорошем качестве

Sui Chen - Autonomous Spacecraft Navigation Based on X-ray Pulsar Signals

#PizzaSeminar Title: "Autonomous Spacecraft Navigation Based on X-ray Pulsar Signals" Speaker: Sui Chen, Politecnico di Milano. Technological advancements and the commercialisation of the space sector have led to a significant surge in the development of space exploration missions. Currently, these missions primarily rely on ground-based Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) systems, which involve human-in-the-loop processes. Although reliable, the ground-based navigation approach is hindered by prolonged communication delays, lacking real-time capabilities and autonomy. In addition, the rapid growth of space users is expected to lead to saturation of ground slots, further impeding the progress of space exploration. Reducing the dependence on ground operations by developing on-board autonomous navigation methods represents a promising solution for future space missions.  Pulsars, with their unique, periodic, and stable signals, present an ideal natural source for spacecraft navigation, functioning like lighthouses in space. This work proposes a novel concept of an autonomous navigation system that uses X-ray pulsar measurements to determine a spacecraft's position and velocity. I will introduce a complete navigation pipeline, comprising signal generation, signal processing and orbit determination. The brightness, visibility, and stability of pulsars are analysed to assess their suitability for spacecraft navigation applications. Situated at the intersection of astrophysics and space engineering, this study aims to build confidence in achieving a fully autonomous X-ray pulsar-based navigation system for future space missions.