Deep space navigation mission design and analysis tool

The Deep Space Navigation (DSNav) Architecture Simulation Tool is a MATLAB-based tool box with a GUI front end. It provides a user-friendly interface to the Orbit Determination Toolbox (ODTBX) developed at NASA GSFC as a mission analysis tool. DSNav allows users to visually prototype and simulate navigation scenario cases. The DSNav GUI tool gives users access to new measurement and dynamics models geared towards Deep Space and formation flying missions, behind the scenes synthesis of mission scenarios as well as ODTBX navigation filters. Simulation results including 3-D trajectories and navigation filter performance are available to the user graphically and as time series data. This paper discusses tool preliminary design and development including specific models developed for deep space and formation flying applications. Design reference mission test cases are presented that were used to validate tool operation.