Apparatus and System for Spacecraft Celestial Navigation Using Spectral Observations of Extrasolar Planetary Systems

摘要

The present invention provides an innovative apparatus and system for onboard spacecraft location determination and celestial navigation by employing spectral observations of extrasolar planetary star system motion. In one apparatus embodiment a gas absorption cell is placed between a sensor and the light from a reference star system with at least one exoplanet, such that the sensor can detect the spectrum through the gas absorption cell. Radial velocities can be calculated via Doppler Spectroscopy techniques and incorporated into a spacecraft navigation solution. The present invention can enable and enhance significant mission capabilities for future manned and unmanned space vehicles and missions.

主权项

1. An extrasolar planetary star tracker apparatus for a spacecraft which allows the spectral observation of an extrasolar planetary star system with at least one exoplanet comprising:
a housing for a gas absorption cell placed in the path of the extrasolar planetary star system spectrum being observed; a gas absorption cell placed in the housing configured to receive the spectrum from the extrasolar planetary star system with at least one exoplanet; a spectrometer used to detect the extrasolar planetary star system spectrum from the gas absorption cell; and a data bus connecting the spectrometer to an electronics assembly, wherein the electronics assembly is comprised of a processor and memory used to compare the spectrum detected by the spectrometer to an onboard extrasolar planetary star system reference database to derive an onboard spacecraft navigation solution.