Title :
Shuttle rendezvous radar performance evaluation and simulation
Author :
Griffin, John W. ; Lindberg, Andrew C. ; Ahn, Thomas B. ; Harton, Paul L.
Author_Institution :
NASA, Houston, TX, USA
fDate :
29 Nov-2 Dec 1988
Abstract :
The US Space Shuttle´s Ku-band system was specifically designed for communications and tracking functions which are required during on-orbit operations with other spacecraft. Operating modes permit search and acquisition to be accomplished by computer designation or under manual control by the astronaut. Ku-band system data channels drive on-board dedicated displays and are incorporated into state vector updates by Shuttle guidance and navigation computers. Radar-cross-section estimates were used in computer simulations to predict the range at which radar detection and acquisition can be expected. Validity of the simulation model and the radar design and performance were verified by flight tests on the White Sands test range. It is concluded that results of the testing established confidence in the capability of the system to provide the relative position and rate information which is needed for Shuttle work involving other spacecraft
Keywords :
aerospace simulation; aerospace testing; digital simulation; performance evaluation; radar systems; space vehicles; Ku-band system; SHF; US Space Shuttle; White Sands test range; acquisition; astronaut; communications; computer simulations; flight tests; radar cross section; radar performance evaluation; search; spacecraft; state vector updates; tracking; Computational modeling; Computer displays; Computer simulation; Drives; Human factors; Navigation; Radar tracking; Space shuttles; Space vehicles; Testing;
Conference_Titel :
Position Location and Navigation Symposium, 1988. Record. Navigation into the 21st Century. IEEE PLANS '88., IEEE
Conference_Location :
Orlando, FL
DOI :
10.1109/PLANS.1988.195489
