Autonomous Navigation and Control of Formation Fliyng Spacecraft on the PRISMA Mission

Abstract

In this paper in-flight results of the PRISMA on-board GPS based navigation system are presented. The onboard navigation performance is estimated through a comparison with the on-ground POD results and is evaluated in terms of accuracy requirements fulfilment and robustness in critical situations (e.g., attitude and orbit control maneuvers, large GPS data gaps). An overview is also given of the innovative and flexible PRISMA operations concept and the DLR’s PRISMA Experiment Control Center (ECC).