NASA successfully tested an autonomous navigation system on the Moon.
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Despite the not very successful landing of the delivered module, the researchers were able to conduct several tests. In the future, this system will provide a decentralized network of navigation “beacons,” writes Alpha Centauri.
This February, NASA tested the first component of a local navigation system for the Moon: the Lunar Node-1 (or LN-1) radio beacon will allow future colonists to navigate our satellite in real time.
LN-1 is a small three-kilogram device that transmits radio signals with navigation information. Now it is only a demonstration of the technology, but according to the plan, a network of such “beacon” antennas will be able to provide the Moon with a system similar to Earth’s GPS. The goal of the development is to ease the load on the NASA Deep Space Network deep space communications system by taking over some of its “navigation” responsibilities for researchers on the lunar surface and vehicles in cislunar space.
LN-1 reached the Moon on February 22 aboard the Nova-C lander as part of Intuitive Machines’ IM-1 mission. It was planned that after landing the device would broadcast telemetry around the clock – however, due to the unsuccessful month of Nova-C, it contacted only twice, both times within 15 minutes. NASA scientists analyze the data obtained.
During the flight, the beacon even managed to serve as a backup navigation system for the landing module, transmitting information to NASA about its position.
The promise of LN-1 doesn’t end with the Moon: on Mars, where communication delays with Earth can be up to 20 minutes, such a system will greatly facilitate navigation.
Lunar Node is based on NASA’s Multi-spacecraft Autonomous Positioning System (MAPS) decentralized navigation software, which allows network participants to navigate relative to each other.
Source: Racurs
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