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Crater Identification Algorithm for the Lost in Low Lunar Orbit ScenarioRecent emphasis by NASA on returning astronauts to the Moon has placed attention on the subject of lunar surface feature tracking. Although many algorithms have been proposed for lunar surface feature tracking navigation, much less attention has been paid to the issue of navigational state initialization from lunar craters in a lost in low lunar orbit (LLO) scenario. That is, a scenario in which lunar surface feature tracking must begin, but current navigation state knowledge is either unavailable or too poor to initiate a tracking algorithm. The situation is analogous to the lost in space scenario for star trackers. A new crater identification algorithm is developed herein that allows for navigation state initialization from as few as one image of the lunar surface with no a priori state knowledge. The algorithm takes as inputs the locations and diameters of craters that have been detected in an image, and uses the information to match the craters to entries in the USGS lunar crater catalog via non-dimensional crater triangle parameters. Due to the large number of uncataloged craters that exist on the lunar surface, a probability-based check was developed to reject false identifications. The algorithm was tested on craters detected in four revolutions of Apollo 16 LLO images, and shown to perform well.
Document ID
20090032647
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Hanak, Chad (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Crain, TImothy (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
February 5, 2010
Subject Category
Geophysics
Report/Patent Number
JSC-CN-18819
JSC-CN-19520
Meeting Information
Meeting: 33rd Annual AAS Guidance and Control
Location: Breckenridge, CO
Country: United States
Start Date: February 5, 2010
End Date: February 10, 2010
Sponsors: American Astronautical Society
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.

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