Topic: DARPA Tackles Precision Space Navigation Via Pulsars

[Stormbringer]

November 7

http://www.space.com/astronotes/astronotes.html

Navigation via Pulsars
Lost in space? No need to be given good results from a new study that looks at use of celestial sources – including distant pulsars – so space vehicles can precisely navigate in low-earth orbit and even through deep space.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has selected Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corporation in Boulder, Colorado to delve into the idea as part of its X-ray Source-based Navigation for Autonomous Position Determination (XNAV) program. 

XNAV is designed to provide precision navigation of vehicles traveling in deep space within hundreds of meters. It is also designed to provide a back-up for the Global Positioning System (GPS) of satellites.

Ball Aerospace will conduct research and development of an autonomous position, attitude and time determination system using celestial sources in the X-ray band of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Also collaborating with Ball Aerospace on the initial XNAV work includes Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), the Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) and
the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

[Nemesis]

But does it work while under Alcubierre drive?

[Stormbringer]

But does it work while under Alcubierre drive?

not under the metrics i am aware of. but it would work under a space or gravity drive. under alcubierre the ship would need to take positional fixes in real space and thus make a series of hops rather than making the trip in one jump.

[Commander Maxillius]

But does it work while under Alcubierre drive?

not under the metrics i am aware of. but it would work under a space or gravity drive. under alcubierre the ship would need to take positional fixes in real space and thus make a series of hops rather than making the trip in one jump.

well, a ship at warp can't turn either, so it makes snese to stop and take a reading then proceed at the new heading

[Stormbringer]

Yup.

[Commander Maxillius]

that is kinda what you said isn't it lolol

late night that was...

[Stormbringer]

No biggie. at least you are participating.