LRO Equipped To Continue Producing Useful Science With Flight Software Update
As LRO Nears 12th Full Year Of Moon Observation, NASA Goddard Engineering Safety Center And Naval Postgraduate School Collaboration Fast Maneuvering AKA ‘FastMan’ Ensures Tilting Ability, Vital For Light / Shadow Measurement For 3D Modeling Of PSRs – Estimated At 40,000 km2 Area, 60% Of Which Located In MSP Area Per LRO / SOFIA; Deactivated Miniature Inertial Measurement Unit Spatial Readings Replicated By Algorithm That Melds Star-Tracking Data With Image-Based Navigation (Based On Technique Pioneered For ISS Zero Propellant Maneuver) Allowing Repositioning 25% Faster Than Star-Tracking Alone
Pictured: Julie Halverson, Space Science Mission Operations Lead Systems Engineer NASA GSFC; Mark Karpenko, NPS Research Associate Professor; Credits: NASA, NPS, IEEE