The Celestial Navigation (CelNav) method was developed in conjunction the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, to provide accurate location data without using GPS or a ground/relay station. CelNav is a minimal sensor/power solution originally developed for dynamic Lunar surface navigation. However, CelNav requires high-accuracy state estimates, due to the absence of key sensors such as a gyroscope, Global Positioning Sys-tem(GPS), and a magnetometer. Robust nonlinear state estimation techniques including Sliding Mode Observer, the Extended Kalman Filter, and the H-Infinity Filter are used in conjunction with CelNav to accurately determine latitude, longitude, and heading, for an unmanned/manned rover or astronaut. The goal is to investigate the feasibility of implementing a nonlinear estimation technique with CelNav for dynamic extra-terrestrial surface navigation when accurate location coordinates are necessary. Preliminary theoretical and Monte Carlo simulations show promise for CelNav as secondary dynamic navigation system for future extra-terrestrial exploration.
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