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SEXTANT - Station Explorer for X-ray Timing and Navigation TechnologyThe Station Explorer for X-ray Timing and Navigation Technology (SEXTANT) is a technology demonstration enhancement to the Neutron-star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) mission, which is scheduled to launch in late 2016 and will be hosted as an externally attached payload on the International Space Station (ISS) via the ExPRESS Logistics Carrier (ELC). During NICER's 18-month baseline science mission to understand ultra-dense matter though observations of neutron stars in the soft X-ray band, SEXTANT will, for the first-time, demonstrate real-time, on-board X-ray pulsar navigation, which is a significant milestone in the quest to establish a GPS-like navigation capability that will be available throughout our Solar System and beyond. Along with NICER, SEXTANT has proceeded through Phase B, Mission Definition, and received numerous refinements in concept of operation, algorithms, flight software, ground system, and ground test capability. NICER/SEXTANT's Phase B work culminated in NASA's confirmation of NICER to Phase C, Design and Development, in March 2014. Recently, NICER/SEXTANT successfully passed its Critical Design Review and SEXTANT received continuation approval in September 2014. In this paper, we describe the X-ray pulsar navigation concept and provide a brief history of previous work, and then summarize the SEXTANT technology demonstration objective, hardware and software components, and development to date.
Document ID
20150001327
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Mitchell, Jason W. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Hasouneh, Munther Abdel Hamid (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Winternitz, Luke M. B. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Valdez, Jennifer E. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Price, Samuel R. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Semper, Sean R. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Yu, Wayne H. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Arzoumanian, Zaven (Universities Space Research Association Columbia, MD, United States)
Ray, Paul S. (Naval Research Lab. Washington, DC, United States)
Wood, Kent S. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Litchford, Ronald J. (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Gendreau, Keith C. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Date Acquired
February 5, 2015
Publication Date
January 5, 2015
Subject Category
Aircraft Communications And Navigation
Space Radiation
Report/Patent Number
GSFC-E-DAA-TN19095
Meeting Information
Meeting: AIAA Guidance, Navigation, and Control Conference
Location: Kissimmee, Fl
Country: United States
Start Date: January 5, 2015
End Date: January 9, 2015
Sponsors: American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Funding Number(s)
OTHER: 2014-596-SEXTANT
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
Keywords
X-rays
Navigation
Pulsars

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