Summary of Lunar Constellation Navigation and Orbit Determination Technology

Abstract

The Moon is the closest celestial body to the Earth. Its rich unique resources are an important supplement to the Earth’s resources and have a profound impact on the sustainable development of human society. As large-scale exploration missions gradually progress, demands for communication, navigation, surveying and other services of lunar-space probes have significantly increased. Constellation navigation and orbit determination technology will become an indispensable part of future lunar exploration infrastructure. This article systematically analyzes the current status of lunar relay navigation satellite networks at home and abroad, summarizes the technical principles of single-satellite and constellation navigation and orbit determination, discusses the technical difficulties in lunar navigation constellation orbit determination and navigation, and analyzes possible solutions. Finally, the development trend of research on high-precision orbit determination and navigation methods for lunar navigation constellations is proposed.