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Completed TRL 2 (started at 2, targeting 4)
GSFC has been developing the expertise and capabilities required to support missions that require onboard, autonomous, TRN through missions like OSIRIS-Rex, ARRM, and the IRAD program. This IRAD, will attempt to combine advancements in both the fields of photoclinometry and computer vision. The end product would be a set of terrain generation tools, added to the current GIANT tool suite, that would improve on the current state-of-the-art tools.
Onboard Terrain Relative Navigation (TRN) measurement processing and autonomous navigation have operational advantages compared to traditional ground-in-the-loop orbit determination, as proven by recent experiences on the OSIRIS-REx mission. Therefore, GSFC has a strategic interest in developing in-house Terrain Relative Navigation data processing for autonomous navigation near celestial bodies. Further work is needed to modernize ground-based tools needed to generate products required by the onboard toolset currently in development which would help GSFC to continue to position itself as a leader in TRN and benefit future projects and proposals by extending optical navigation capabilities required to complete these missions.
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