Search NASA⌕ Search

Engineering topics

Jason M. Leonard

Publications and source records attributed to Jason M. Leonard.

9 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2021

Navigation Prediction Performance During OSIRIS-REx Proximity Operations at (101955) Bennu

The OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification and Security–Regolith Explorer) Orbit Determination team performed covariance analyses prior to the commencement of proximity operations (ProxOps) at (101955) Bennu to determine the expected predicted trajectory performance in order to meet trajectory knowledge requirements throughout each phase of the mission. One of the primary requirements placed on the predicted trajectory performance was based on the performance during orbital phases leading up to the maneuver to initiate the Touch-and-Go (TAG) trajectory descent. Throughout ProxOps the nominal force models being used to predict the spacecraft trajectory were updated in an effort to improve the prediction performance. The most significant models that contributed to prediction performance were of solar radiation pressure, thermal reradiation of the spacecraft, predicted attitude errors, and desaturation maneuvers. Efforts were made throughout all of ProxOps to monitor, trend, predict, and update spacecraft modeling to improve the prediction performance. These efforts were vital to reduce the spacecraft knowledge errors necessary to achieve a TAG target smaller than pre-launch analysis allowed due to the rough terrain of Bennu. Increased precision in predicted trajectory errors allowed for refined uncertainties to be used for future phase planning throughout the mission. The navigation team successfully predicted the spacecraft trajectory throughout all of ProxOps achieving predicted trajectories errors less than originally analyzed.

Jason M. Leonard↗
NASA NTRS2021

Small-Body Proximity Operations & TAG: Navigation Experiences & Lessons Learned from the OSIRIS-REx Mission

On October 20th, 2020, the nearly two-year proximity operations campaign for the Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security–Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx)mission at the near-Earth asteroid (101955) Bennu culminated in a successful Touch-and-Go (TAG) sample collection event. Navigation performance was a significant driver for flight activities at Bennu, which consisted of multiple phases geared towards characterizing the asteroid, selecting a sample site, and safely guiding the spacecraft to and from the surface in order to collect at least 60 g of pristine regolith. The entire operations team gained a tremendous amount of experience operating in the challenging small body environment and overcame many challenges. In this paper, we summarize navigation-focused experiences and lessons learned from OSIRIS-REx proximity operations at Bennu that are applicable to future missions to small asteroids, comets, and planetary moons. Areas of focus include staffing and organization, ground system infrastructure, mission phase planning, navigation operations, and spacecraft and payload considerations.

Kenneth M. Getzandanner↗
NASA NTRS2021

Concept of Operations for OSIRIS-REx Optical Navigation Image Planning

Optical navigation (OpNav) is a critical subsystem of the OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return mission, which operated in the vicinity of near-Earth asteroid (101955) Bennu from August 2018 through April 2021. A substantial amount of mission resources across multiple subsystems and institutions is required to ensure that the OpNav data are successfully acquired. The KinetX OpNav team, part of the Flight Dynamics System (FDS), is responsible for performing required analysis to develop the OpNav operations plans; requesting, reviewing and verifying the plans; and ultimately using the image data for critical navigation operations. The FDS team, responsible for the mission navigation, is operated by KinetX Aerospace with management and operations support from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. The Science Processing and Operations Center (SPOC), located at the University of Arizona’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, is responsible for generating the planning products for all science and most OpNav data. These plans are integrated into the spacecraft sequences, tested, and commanded by the Mission Support Area (MSA) at Lockheed Martin Space. To ensure mission-critical navigation image data are successfully acquired, the plan is developed through a waterfall of planning cycles over the course of 3 months prior to onboard plan execution. During the initial strategic planning for a mission phase, detailed analysis is performed by the OpNav team to conceptualize the concept of operations (ConOps) for image data collection. This phase OpNav Narrative is included along with other strategic planning documents for the key ground segment stakeholders to review and provide feedback. The detailed OpNav plans get defined in the tactical planning cycle, which spans 8 to 3 weeks before the week-long integrated sequence is executed on-board the spacecraft. During the tactical cycle, the initial OpNav Request is submitted along with the science requests, kicking off development of the science and OpNav plans. Once the initial plan is drafted, interfaces are exercised so that the plan can be reviewed and iterated, if necessary. A rigorous schedule is followed by the planning teams during the implementation cycle, spanning the last 18 days before uplink, to ensure all the necessary integration, testing, and reviewing can occur on time. The development of the OpNav planning ConOps, including responsibilities, interfaces, timelines, and procedures, took extensive collaboration across mission elements and institutions. The process was robust throughout the 137 weeks of continuous Optical Navigation Operations at Bennu, which concluded on April 9th, 2021.

Coralie D. Adam↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

A Comparison of Bearing Measurements to Surface Features Generated Using Stereophotoclinometry and Surface Feature Navigation Techniques

The Origins Spectral Interpretation Resource Identification Security Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) mission to the asteroid Bennu completed successful two-and-a-half year proximity operations in May 2021. The mission comprehensively mapped Bennu at unprecedented detail and collected a sample of Bennu’s surface to return to Earth. Throughout proximity operations, the OSIRIS-REx navigation team used the maps made of Bennu’s surface to navigate in the Bennu environment with high accuracy through the use of precise and accurate optical navigation data, radiometric data, and force modelling. The primary type of optical navigation measurements extracted from the images captured by OSIRIS-REx (particularly after first entering orbit around Bennu) were observations of known features on Bennu’s surface. Two related but different techniques/tools were used to extract these observations from the images: the Goddard Image Analysis and Navigation Tool Surface Feature Navigation (GIANT SFN) and Stereophotoclinometry (SPC) Autoregister. In this paper we compare the differences between the observables extracted using GIANT SFN and SPC Autoregister, explain the differences, and discuss where each technique is best suited.

Andrew Liounis↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

On-Orbit Cross Calibration Between the Osiris-Rex Orbiting Laser Altimeter and Navigation Camera

Accurate shape models of small bodies provide both science value and resources for precision relative navigation. One instrument commonly used for generating shape models is the laser altimeter. Laser altimeters require accurate intrinsic and extrinsic calibration knowledge to produce accurate shape models. Here, we describe a method used for updating the intrinsic and extrinsic calibration parameters of the laser altimeter onboard the Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security–Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft, OLA (OSIRISREx Laser Altimeter). We perform the calibration update by comparing the OLA scans with monocular camera images of the asteroid surface captured by the primary navigation camera.

Andrew J. Liounis↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Lucy Orbit Determination Performance From Launch Through EGA-1

Lucy is a 12-year long NASA Discovery-class mission which launched on October 16, 2021 and is currently on its way to the Jupiter-Trojan asteroids at the L4 and L5 Lagrange points. On its journey to the Trojan asteroids, Lucy will also fly by two main belt asteroids, and perform 3 Earth fly bys. This paper summarizes primarily the Orbit Determination (OD) aspect of the first year of the mission from launch through the first Earth fly by (EGA-1). Some challenges were encountered for OD as part of the +Y solar array not fully deploying, but these were resolved within the first year of flight. The high quality radio-metric data from the Deep Space Network including 2- and 3-way Doppler, sequential 2-way ranging, complemented by delta differential one-way ranging (∆DOR) has enabled the OD team to characterize the Solar Radiation Pressure force, resolve desaturation maneuvers, generate both maneuver reconstructions and accurate long-term predicted trajectories. This paper discusses the filter setup and strategies implemented, as well as the OD performance from launch, through cruise, and including EGA-1.

Jeroen L. Geeraert↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

OSIRIS-REx Earth Return & Entry: Navigation Operations & Lessons Learned

The Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security–Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft successfully returned to Earth on September24, 2024, safely delivering its Sample Return Capsule (SRC) to the Utah Test and Training Range (UTTR). This paper describes the navigation operations that occurred between the departure from Bennu and the return of the SRC. An overview is given of the Flight Dynamics System (FDS) that includes tracking, orbit determination (OD), maneuver planning, and interfaces with entry, descent, and landing. Operational details on the SRC release criteria and conjunction assessment considerations are also provided. Lessons learned are presented that may help future sample return or interplanetary entry missions.

Kenneth M. Getzandanner↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

OSIRIS-REx Earth Return Orbit Determination Analysis and Performance

Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security–Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) was a NASA New Frontiers–class asteroid sample return mission to (101955) Bennu. OSIRIS-REx performed a series of Trajectory Cor-rection Maneuver (TCM)s to target an Entry Interface (EI) point for Earth Return and entry, descent, and landing (EDL). On September 24, 2023, the Sample Re-turn Capsule (SRC) separated from the spacecraft, entered the atmosphere, and ultimately landed at the Utah Test and Training Range for recovery. This paper gives an overview of the updated orbit determination (OD) covariance analysis that went into the Earth return and reentry analysis after asteroid departure. Tracking data assumptions and multiple filter cases are analyzed to show performance. Operational OD results from TCM-9 and subsequent targeting maneuvers up to entry interface are provided. We show parameter error analysis contributions from the OD setup and their breakdown in the B-Plane error ellipses. Finally, we discuss the terminal OD solutions into EI and reconstruction results using onboard image data.

Jason M. Leonard↗