Optical hybrid navigation and station keeping around Itokawa

Abstract

Hayabusa has performed a proximity operation including station keeping and hovering around Itokawa. In order to navigate and to guide the spacecraft to Itokawa, it made highly use of optical hybrid navigation technique combined with the radiometric information obtained on the ground. Hayabusa is also equipped with a sophisticated autonomous navigation and guidance function including onboard image processing and the like. Although one of three reaction wheels failed in late July of 2005, and the second wheel failed in early October, we had succeeded to continue the technology demonstrations and the science observations. This paper presents how those navigation and guidance in proximity phase were carried out, showing flight results. Show more