Thread: Deap Space Navigation
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Old November 28th 06, 07:01 AM posted to sci.space.history,sci.space.shuttle,sci.space.station
Derek Lyons
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Default Improving Navigation (was Deap Space Navigation)
(Henry Spencer) wrote:

Would it help to put some sort of navigation beacon on the surface of
the target planet/moon? Something that the approaching probe could
use for it's own orbital insertion maneuvers?

In the long run, such things could help, at least for busy destinations,
but you need to invest substantial resources to build a GPS equivalent at,
say, Mars.

Do you really need a GPS analog? It seems a couple of beacons that
could act as a pseudo-Transit would be Really Handy - and much cheaper
and easier than a GPS type system.

D.
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Oct 5th, 2004 JDL