Performance Assessment of Crater-Based Navigation for Autonomous Moon Landing

Abstract

Precision landing is a key component for future robotic Moon exploration missions. Optical crater-based navigation is an approach considered for absolute navigation, a key element of precision landing. Software simulation results show that such system is compatible with precision landing requirements of 100 m or better by providing accurate position estimates from low-lunar orbit using a global openly available crater database. Operations from altitude of 20 km or lower require an enhanced database with trajectory-specific crater database elements added. Operation down to 5 km is demonstrated using this augmented database. Resulting position measurement error is of the order of magnitude of the spacecraft onboard camera ground sampling distance.