Engineering topics

Heuberger, H.

Publications and source records attributed to Heuberger, H..

3 records

NASA NTRS1984

Landsat/4/Global Positioning System navigation results

An experimental GPSPAC flown on the Landsat-4 spacecraft was the first spaceborne navigation system to use the NAVSTAR Global Position System (GPS). In order to validate the accuracy and reliability of GPSPAC orbit solutions, definitive Landsat-4 ephemerides, derived from ground based tracking data, were generated and compared with GPSPAC estimates. In addition, Landsat-4 orbital solutions were reconstructed from raw GPS measurement data with a GPSPAC navigation simulator program using different Kalman filter constants. Ephemeris comparisons and simulator results are presented, as well as recommendations for the navigation filter.

Heuberger, H.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Performance of the GPS package on Landsat-5

The Landsat-5 spacecraft, launched in March 1984, carries an experimental Global Positioning System Package (GPSPAC) as did Landsat-4 in 1982. The primary objective of this experiment was to characterize and improve the performance of GPSPAC as an onboard navigation tool. In order to validate the accuracy of GPSPAC orbit solutions, definitive Landsat-5 ephemerides, derived from ground based tracking data, were generated and compared with GPSPAC estimates. This paper presents the results of such analysis as well as a summary of GPSPAC operation on Landsat-5. A description of the Landsat-5 spacecraft, GPSPAC and its navigation algorithms are also included.

Heuberger, H.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Halo orbit station keeping for International Sun-Earth Explorer-C /ISEE-C/

The ISEE-C spacecraft must be kept close to an unstable 'halo' orbit with a series of discrete orbital maneuvers set at intervals at least one month apart. A numerical algorithm has been developed to compute a velocity correction at any point on the trajectory which will minimize the distance between the satellite orbit and the nominal halo path. This algorithm is used to generate a number of station keeping histories with fixed time intervals between maneuvers to ascertain bounds on fuel cost, tightness of fit to nominal path and expected duration between thrust applications. The difference between a third order analytic representation of the halo orbit and a numerically improved nominal path as a reference orbit in the station keeping scheme is investigated as well as the distinction between a tight control and a loose control. A simulation of an operational approach to station keeping is also presented which shows that intermittant propulsive maneuvers can be used to control the spacecraft with very modest fuel expenditure.

Heuberger, H.↗