Integrated inertial navigation system/Global Positioning System (INS/GPS) for manned return vehicle autoland application

It is noted that with the development of the International Space Station Freedom, people will permanently live in space and require routine access and an assured crew return capability in case of emergencies in space. The extended duration in space requires a manned return vehicle that is less demanding on the crew and provides an autonomous deorbit, entry, and autoland capability. The authors discuss an autoland capability with an integrated differential GPS/INS that provides the required position and velocity accuracies without the need for tactical aircraft navigation (TACAN) and microwave landing system (MLS) navigation aides. Simulation results are used to demonstrate the feasibility of autoland using differential GPS aided with a high-precision altimeter. This concept applies to several manned space applications, such as Assured Crew Return Vehicle (ACRV), Assured Shuttle Availability (ASA), Advanced Manned Launch System (AMLS), and National Aerospace Plane (NASP), and to unmanned return vehicles such as the Propulsion Avionics Module (P/AM)