Pulsars: The New GPS System
Poster: Aron Schatz
Posted on September 5, 2006 at 1:38:07 PM
In a very interesting article, Darpa is looking at using X-ray stars for a new form of navigation for LEO and even space bearing vehicles. The only problem is when the pulsar finally dies off. That shouldn't happen anything soon, though
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And unlike GPS, it would also work beyond Earth orbit, Pines says: "This would be for anywhere in the solar system: low-Earth orbit, highly elliptical orbits, interplanetary, or even beyond our solar system." For interplanetary space probes, X-ray navigation would be at least an order of magnitude more accurate than current techniques which rely on tracking from Earth, he says. Tests of prototype sensors are in progress at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Goldsten says. The results will be presented for review in September, when DARPA will decide whether to continue the development of XNAV. The second phase of the project could begin as early as November 2006 and would see an X-ray sensor built for testing in 2009 aboard the International Space Station.