Look, ma, no HANS! [High Accuracy Navigation Systems]

As part of the low cost design, the spinning Genesis spacecraft has no High Accuracy Navigation Systems (HANS) on board, such as gyros or accelerometers. All science requirements are met, although accurate pointing estimation is limited to spin rates less than 2 rpm, due to star tracker characteristics, and less than 28° off Sun, because of the two-axis Sun sensor characteristics. Payload contamination concerns result in thruster locations that produce uncoupled forces, and significant translational delta-V, whenever pointing or spin rate are changed. Nevertheless, with creative systems, mission and subsystems design, planning and operations, Genesis should exceed all science objectives. The Genesis lessons learned will benefit future mission design and operations in the areas of both planned activities and off-nominal situations.