Autonomous Space Navigation (Second Edition)

Dear Colleagues,

Navigation is a key functionality for existing and next-generation space missions. In many cases, due to Earth-to-space communication delays and a lack of coverage, absolute and relative navigation must be directly performed on board and in real-time to enable autonomous guidance and control. To do so, several technologies and algorithms can be used, depending on the specific application, the operational environment, the required accuracy and robustness, the characteristics of the space vehicle, as well as other mission-related constraints.

Although numerous solutions have already been proposed or successfully adopted in actual space missions, next-generation capabilities, such as spacecraft formation flying, highly accurate landings, proximity operations, advanced pointing precision, interplanetary trajectory or advanced robotic surface exploration require further advancements in autonomous navigation. This is especially true when using very small space vehicles, for which the accuracy, robustness and autonomy are typically limited due to on-board constraints such as power, mass, volume and computational resources.

This Special Issue aims to present an overview of recent research trends on this matter. It encourages the submission of original research articles and state-of-the-art reviews from academia and industry that focus on innovative technologies, methods and algorithms for the autonomous navigation of spacecraft when orbiting in proximity of other space objects. The scope of this Special Issue includes, but is not limited to, the following:

Technologies, methods and algorithms for autonomous absolute spacecraft navigation, based on the use of GNSS, IMU, star trackers, and other sensors;

Spacecraft relative navigation and pose determination using GNSS, RF ranging and/or electro optical sensors;

Autonomous navigation and situational awareness in deep space exploration scenarios (e.g., hazard detection and precise landing);

Design, integration, and calibration of innovative multi-sensor-based architectures for spacecraft navigation;

Artificial intelligence and machine learning for autonomous spacecraft navigation.

Dr. Vincenzo Capuano
Dr. Roberto Opromolla
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Remote Sensing is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• spacecraft navigation

• spacecraft pose estimation
• autonomy
• GNSS
• inertial sensors
• star trackers
• autonomous planetary landing
• computer vision
• Artificial Intelligence
• machine learning

• Autonomous Space Navigation in Remote Sensing (10 articles)