Lunar Navigation Satellite System

Lunar Navigation Satellite Systems (LNSS) aim to provide precise positioning and navigation capabilities for lunar missions, addressing limitations of current terrestrial systems. Research focuses on developing robust algorithms for autonomous localization using various techniques, including crater detection via convolutional neural networks (e.g., YOLOv3, Darknet53) and star tracking for optical navigation, often incorporating particle filtering and attention mechanisms to improve accuracy and explainability. These advancements are crucial for enabling longer-range, autonomous lunar rover operations and supporting future human exploration by providing reliable, onboard navigation independent of Earth-based systems. The development of compact, low-power onboard clocks and efficient time-transfer architectures from Earth-based GPS are also key areas of investigation.