Towards vision-based self-navigating CubeSats in cislunar and deep space missions

Tiago S. C. Hormigo; Carlos Mano; Pedro Pinheiro; André Santos; Francisco Camara

doi:10.1117/12.2633493

3 October 2022 Towards vision-based self-navigating CubeSats in cislunar and deep space missions

Tiago S. C. Hormigo, Carlos Mano, Pedro Pinheiro, André Santos, Francisco Camara

Proceedings Volume 12236, CubeSats and SmallSats for Remote Sensing VI; 122360B (2022) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2633493
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2022, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

One of the key challenges in future space explorers is the ability to carry out complex mission profiles while avoiding constant ground support until arrival at the mission target. A key point is precise self-knowledge of location and attitude. Over the last several years there have been many demonstrations of how to use visual cues to enable safe and precise execution of key mission phases, including in large-scale missions (most recently on NASA's Mars Perseverance). Nevertheless, this transition is sure to occur at a faster pace on small missions due to their comparatively low cost. We have investigated how to forego entirely ground-based navigation throughout a mission - between launch separation and target arrival. We propose to use primarily just three small optical instruments (two star trackers and one high-resolution camera), along with a high-performance processing unit, while considering complementary sensors such as IMUs and ranging instruments for critical events. We describe two different mission profiles, a lunar landing and an asteroid mission. We have calculated suitable trajectories to reach our targets, and describe appropriate image processing techniques to reach the required positioning performance. We also describe the covariance analyses that guide both trajectory correction timeline and the observation schedule. We have built prototype hardware instrument to test our progress towards achieving this goal, and have tested it under conditions representative of a real mission. Finally, we are currently qualifying cameras for In-Orbit Demonstrations in early 2023 to inform our next steps.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Tiago S. C. Hormigo, Carlos Mano, Pedro Pinheiro, André Santos, and Francisco Camara "Towards vision-based self-navigating CubeSats in cislunar and deep space missions", Proc. SPIE 12236, CubeSats and SmallSats for Remote Sensing VI, 122360B (3 October 2022); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2633493

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KEYWORDS

Space operations

Cameras

Image processing

Stars

Commercial off the shelf technology

Detection and tracking algorithms

Optical tracking

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