NavList:

   

Reply

On Jan 4, 2005, at 10:24 AM, Young, Derrick wrote:
> Forty five minutes after the umbilical cord was disconnected, the IUS
> would "wake up".  It would then start searching the sky looking for a
> star of a specified color and intensity.  When it found a star with the
> right color and intensity, it would place that star in the center of
> the
> visible star field and then rotate around until it found a second star
> of specified color and intensity.  With two, it would then look for a
> third.  This would enable the onboard systems to determine its orbital
> position and orientation.

Derrick,

Great post.  Do you know whether the specifications for the first star
(color and intensity) were set so that only one star would end up being
picked?  I.e., the mission plan effectively says, "look for Sirius," or
"look for Betelgeuse," etc.

Thanks,

Fred

   

Reply