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    Accuracy of automatic celestial navigation
    From: Paul Hirose
    Date: 2002 Dec 6, 13:32 -0800

    A time of two I have mentioned the B-2 bomber's astro-inertial nav
    system. During my years in the program its accuracy was classified,
    and as far as I know it still is, so I have never given any figures.
    However, a publicly available U.S. military document from the office
    of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, CJCSI 6130.01B, "Master
    Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Plan", has this to say:
    
    [quote]
    
    e. Celestial Navigation. Celestial navigation, as traditionally
    practiced, provides an average error in position of 2 nm. Increased
    flexibility, more accurate calculations, and decreased time to
    solution (fix) can be achieved by performing calculations
    electronically. Accuracies corresponding to 15 to 30 meters on the
    Earth's surface are attained by automated celestial systems, depending
    on the degree of automation. Automated star trackers on spacecraft,
    missile guidance systems, and aircraft provide high-accuracy,
    real-time calibration of position and orientation with respect to the
    absolute inertial reference frame provided by stellar sources.
    Typically a star tracker augments an inertial (or other) guidance
    system. The System to Estimate Latitude and Longitude Astronomically
    (STELLA) is a computer application that automates all of the
    calculations of celestial navigation, including derivation of a fix
    (2D). It is equally useful for determination of the gyro/compass
    error, and supports the necessary planning activities for both
    functions with numeric and graphic displays. STELLA eliminates the
    need for printed tables, log and manual calculations, and can be
    installed on fixed, portable, or lap-top computers for use when
    needed. STELLA has built-in capability for higher accuracy if used in
    conjunction with stabilized or compensated sensors vice hand-held
    instruments.
    
    [Apparently, STELLA is in the DoD section of the USNO's site. Sob.
    Further on in this document:]
    
    (4) Advanced Celestial Navigator
    
    (a) Description. Using fully-developed space-tested astro-trackers,
    the advanced celestial navigator (ACN) will provide day and night
    celestial navigation in partially obscured skies. The highly sensitive
    charged coupled devices, operating in the near infrared, will be able
    to define angles to celestial bodies to within 1 arcsecond, a
    sixty-fold improvement over the current hand-held visual system.
    Celestial fixes to within 30 meters will be common. For aircraft,
    altitudes to 100 feet are realizable.
    
    (b) Mission to be Enhanced Through This Technology. When closely
    coupled to the INS, the ACN will provide stabilization for both
    position and platform alignment. For high-flying aircraft, the ACN/INS
    combination provides a nearly all-weather, unjammable, and precise
    navigation system should GPS be denied.
    
    [end quote]
    
    Here is the complete document (300 k PDF file):
    
    https://www.peterson.af.mil/GPS_Support/documents/masternav_timing_plan.pdf
    
    
    

       
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