INS/GPS space application for all flight dynamics - boost through landing

Abstract

This paper describes the evolutionary development of an expanded capability INS/GPS system with application for several high dynamic space vehicles, both existing and planned. The principle effort began approximately four years ago with the NASA decision to initiate a series of Space Shuttle GPS development flight tests using a space modified Collins 3M GPS receiver. The technological advances resulting from the highly successful Shuttle flight tests are being applied to and expanded on for both the successor to the 3M, the MAGR-S and a small card Collins GPS receiver modified for space (GEMIII-S). The GEMIII-S has been integrated with a Litton IMU. Since the initial Shuttle efforts, considerable progress has been made in the application of the all dynamic Collins GPS receivers for space and a common approach for integration into both existing and planned space type vehicles. This paper addresses the following three main topics that define that progress: 1) evolution of the GPS space receiver for civil and military applications; 2) integrated INS/GPS functions for various flight dynamic phases and vehicles; and 3) verification and test of the integrated system.