Shuttle navigation overview

Abstract

Space Shuttle onboard navigation system tasks are related to position and velocity determination, attitude determination, sensor management, sensor Redundancy Management (RM), and navigation-related functions such as transformations, timing system utilization, and user processing for displays, guidance, and flight control. It is pointed out that Shuttle navigation is different in at least two areas from previous manned space flight navigation. The differences are related to the use of multiple units to provide protection from increased risk of failure of off-the-shelf-type equipment used for more than one flight, and the need to land at a runway. Attention is given to the navigation sensor system, the Shuttle Inertial Measurement Units, the Shuttle Star Tracker, the Crew Optical Alinement Sight, the Shuttle Tacan, the Air Data Subsystem, and aspects of navigation system mechanization.