Department 01 · 7 technologies
Guidance, Navigation & Control
How spacecraft know where they are, decide where to go and steer themselves there — from deep-space cruise to the final metres of a landing or docking.
Technologies in this department
AOD
Autonomous Orbit Determination
A spacecraft estimates its own orbit on board from its sensor measurements, rather than relying on tracking from ground stations.
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OPNAV
Optical Navigation
Using camera images of stars, planets, moons or surface landmarks to work out position and velocity.
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TRN
Terrain Relative Navigation
Matching descent-camera images to onboard maps to pinpoint a lander's position during its approach.
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HDA
Hazard Detection & Avoidance
Spotting rocks, slopes and craters in real time and diverting to a safe landing site.
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AR&D
Autonomous Rendezvous & Docking
Approaching, aligning with and connecting to another spacecraft without a human pilot.
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PROX OPS
Proximity Operations
Close-range manoeuvring around another object — a satellite, station or asteroid — for inspection, servicing or capture.
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AERO / LITHO
Lithobraking & Aerobraking Autonomy
Managing deceleration by atmospheric drag or surface impact, with onboard control of each pass or touchdown.
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Reporting for this department will appear here as it is published.