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Lunar rover navigation conceptsWith regard to the navigation of mobile lunar vehicles on the surface, candidate techniques are reviewed and progress of simulations and experiments made up to now are described. Progress that can be made through precursor investigations on Earth is considered. In the early seventies the problem was examined in a series of relevant tests made in the California desert. Meanwhile, Apollo rovers made short exploratory sorties and robotic Lunokhods traveled over modest distances on the Moon. In these early missions some of the required methods were demonstrated. The navigation problem for a lunar traverse can be viewed in three parts: to determine the starting point with enough accuracy to enable the desired mission; to determine the event sequence required to reach the site of each traverse objective; and to redetermine actual positions enroute. The navigator's first tool is a map made from overhead imagery. The Moon was almost completely photographed at moderate resolution by spacecraft launched in the sixties, but that data set provides imprecise topographic and selenodetic information. Therefore, more advanced orbital missions are now proposed as part of a resumed lunar exploration program. With the mapping coverage expected from such orbiters, it will be possible to use a combination of visual landmark navigation and external radio and optical references (Earth and Sun) to achieve accurate surface navigation almost everywhere on the near side of the Moon. On the far side and in permanently dark polar areas, there are interesting exploration targets where additional techniques will have to be used.
Document ID
19940018913
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Burke, James D.
(Planetary Society Pasadena, CA., United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1993
Publication Information
Publication: CNES, Missions, Technologies, and Design of Planetary Mobile Vehicles
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
94N23386
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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