Navigation System Design with Application to the Ares I Crew Launch Vehicle and Space Launch Systems

Abstract

For a launch vehicle, the Navigation System is responsible for determining the vehicle state and providing state and state derived information for Guidance and Controls. The accuracy required of the Navigation System by the vehicle is dependent upon the vehicle, vehicle mission, and other consideration, such as impact foot print. NASAs Ares I launch vehicle and SLS are examples of launch vehicles with are/where to employ inertial navigation systems. For an inertial navigation system, the navigation system accuracy is defined by the inertial instrument errors to a degree determined by the method of estimating the initial navigation state. Utilization of GPS aiding greatly reduces the accuracy required in inertial hardware to meet the same accuracy at orbit insertion. For a launch vehicle with lunar bound payload, the navigation accuracy can have large implications on propellant required to correct for state errors during trans-lunar injection.