[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_image=”https:\/\/www.ieec.cat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/slider-comunicacio.jpg” max_height=”130px” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”24px||11px|||” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Unitats de recerca” module_class=”ieec-orgs” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|700||on|||||” text_font_size=”16px” header_font=”|700|||||||” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” header_font_size_tablet=”28px” header_font_size_phone=”26px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoiY3VzdG9tX21ldGFfb3JnYW5pemFjaW9uZXMiLCJzZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJiZWZvcmUiOiIiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsImVuYWJsZV9odG1sIjoib2ZmIn19@[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_post_title author=”off” categories=”off” comments=”off” featured_image=”off” admin_label=”T\u00edtol i data” module_class=”ieec-title” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”Cairo|300|||||||” title_font_size=”40px” meta_font=”||on||||||” meta_font_size=”16px” title_font_size_tablet=”35px” title_font_size_phone=”30px” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_post_title][et_pb_text admin_label=”Subt\u00edtols” module_class=”ieec-summary” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Source Sans Pro||on||||||” text_font_size=”24px” text_line_height=”1.1em” text_font_size_tablet=”22px” text_font_size_phone=”20px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_post_title title=”off” meta=”off” module_class=”ieec-img-container” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” border_width_top=”10px” border_color_top=”#406fda” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_post_title][et_pb_text module_class=”ieec-img-footer” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”15px” text_line_height=”1.1em” background_color=”rgba(64,111,218,0.15)” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”30px|20px|30px|20px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Artist\u2019s impression of deep space navigation with pulsars. Credits: ESA. Compilation: Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE)<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” link_font=”|700|||on||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Currently, most space missions rely on Earth-based guidance and tracking systems, which involves human intervention and limitations related to communication delays. Autonomous navigation systems aim to reduce this dependence, especially in interplanetary or deep-space missions, where technologies like GPS become ineffective. A study led by researchers from the <\/span>Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia<\/span><\/a> (IEEC \u2014 Institut d\u2019Estudis Espacials de Catalunya) at the <\/span>Institute of Space Sciences<\/span><\/a> (ICE-CSIC) and Politecnico di Milano, published in the journal <\/span>Acta Astronautica<\/span><\/i>, confirms the <\/span>viability of X-ray pulsar-based space navigation (XNAV) <\/b>in deep space.<\/span><\/p>\n Pulsars, rapidly rotating neutron stars with an intense magnetic field, <\/span>emit periodic and stable signals<\/b> like \u2018cosmic beacons,\u2019 making them an ideal natural source for space navigation.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” link_font=”|700|||on||||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n To assess the viability and performance of autonomous spacecraft navigation using X-ray pulsars\u2014that is, without intervening from Earth\u2014the study presents a systematic and realistic approach to pulsar selection, taking into account their brightness, temporal stability, geometric configuration, and visibility limitations. In addition, the team uses observational data from NASA\u2019s <\/span>NICER<\/span><\/a> mission, an X-ray telescope launched in 2017 to study neutron stars, black holes, and other phenomena from its base aboard the International Space Station to simulate the performance of an autonomous XNAV system.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cUnlike many previous studies, we have used real observational data to assess the system\u2019s performance, which allows us to estimate the capabilities of pulsar-based autonomous navigation much more realistically,\u201d says Sui Chen, a predoctoral researcher at Politecnico di Milano who did a stay at ICE-CSIC developing this work, and now works at the University of Liverpool.<\/span><\/p>\n This work is not based solely on analytical noise models, but also <\/span>uses real data to estimate measurement uncertainty<\/b>. The study proves that autonomous navigation of space missions without ground support is feasible, particularly for deep space missions beyond our Earth orbits, where traditional positioning systems like GPS are unavailable.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe challenge is not simply to identify the brightest pulsars, but to determine the optimal combination of sources capable of delivering accurate, precise and stable navigation performance throughout the mission,\u201d says Emilie Parent, former postdoctoral fellow at ICE-CSIC and IEEC, currently working at the Institute for Planetary Sciences and Astrophysics of Grenoble.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text module_class=”section-title” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”25px” header_2_font_size_tablet=”23px” header_2_font_size_phone=”23px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” link_font=”|700|||on||||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The XNAV navigation system has been tested using an Extended Kalman filter\u2014an algorithm to estimate the spacecraft state by combining a dynamic model with external measurements under uncertainty\u2014under two different scenarios. The first one: in low Earth orbit; and the second one: <\/span>an Earth-to-Jupiter transfer.<\/span> In addition, the team used data from the NICER mission to construct realistic pulsar pulse profiles and to estimate measurement uncertainties based on simulations built on real data, extrapolating to various types of future X-ray detectors.<\/span><\/p>\n The results show that pulsars that emit large amounts of energy, such as the Crab Pulsar (PSR B0531+21) located in the Crab Nebula, can achieve high accuracy (below 7 km in low Earth orbit), but suffer from poor long-term stability. Meanwhile, millisecond pulsars (with rotation periods between 1 and 10 milliseconds) offer greater long-term reliability at the cost of lower navigation accuracy.<\/span><\/p>\n The work presents a systematic study of navigation performance, which assesses the achievable position accuracy across different effective instrument area ranges. This provides <\/span>a realistic study to begin building XNAV devices to be used on small satellites.<\/b><\/p>\n \u201cWe wanted to take an important step towards navigation systems capable of operating autonomously in deep space for a long time, where dependence on terrestrial infrastructure is increasingly limited,\u201d says Nanda Rea, IEEC researcher at ICE-CSIC and co-author of the study.<\/span><\/p>\n This work, developed entirely at ICE-CSIC, was co-funded by a Proof of Concept (PoC) grant from the European Research Council (ERC) awarded to the <\/span>DeepSpacePULSE<\/span><\/a> project, led by astrophysicist Nanda Rea. This project aims to study the feasibility of autonomous navigation using X-rays emitted by pulsars, making these satellite positioning devices competitive in both the public and private space markets.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#FFFFFF” text_font_size=”21px” text_line_height=”1.1em” background_color=”#406fda” text_orientation=”center” width=”70%” width_tablet=”70%” width_phone=”70%” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” module_alignment=”center” custom_padding=”40px|50px|40px|50px|true|true” custom_padding_tablet=”40px|50px|40px|50px|true|true” custom_padding_phone=”30px|20px|30px|20px|true|true” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” text_font_size_tablet=”21px” text_font_size_phone=”19px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n \u201cWe wanted to take an important step towards navigation systems capable of operating autonomously in deep space for a long time, where dependence on terrestrial infrastructure is increasingly limited,\u201d says Nanda Rea<\/span>.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text module_class=”section-title” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”25px” header_2_font_size_tablet=”23px” header_2_font_size_phone=”23px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” link_font=”|700|||on||||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n This article contributes to the development of autonomous navigation technologies for space exploration, reducing dependence on ground-based systems. In the long term, it could enable more efficient deep-space missions, both for planetary exploration and interplanetary travel.<\/span><\/p>\n In the future, studies in this field will focus on improving pulsar timing models, combining multiple pulsars for greater robustness, and integrating XNAV systems with other navigation systems. Furthermore, <\/span>a first engineering model of the device, with all its components, will be built at the ICE-CSIC laboratories.<\/b> \u201cThis paves the way for fully autonomous spacecraft navigation for deep-space missions, where no other navigation system can be effective in the long term,\u201d Rea concludes.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”30px||||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider color=”#406fda” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text admin_label=”M\u00e9s informaci\u00f3” module_class=”ieec-sub-title” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Cairo|700|||||||” text_text_color=”#406fda” text_font_size=”20px” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n More information<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_class=”ieec-sub-text” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.1em” link_font=”|700|||on||||” custom_margin=”20px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n This research is presented in a paper entitled \u201c<\/span>Pulsar selection criteria and performance evaluation of autonomous X-ray pulsar navigation systems<\/span><\/a>\u201d, by <\/span>Chen, S.<\/span> et al.<\/span><\/i>, to appear in the journal Acta Astronautica in May 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider color=”#406fda” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text admin_label=”Enlla\u00e7os” module_class=”ieec-sub-title” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Cairo|700|||||||” text_text_color=”#406fda” text_font_size=”20px” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Links<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_class=”ieec-sub-text” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.1em” link_font=”|700|||on|||#1a1140|” link_text_color=”#1a1140″ link_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”20px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider color=”#406fda” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text admin_label=”Contactes” module_class=”ieec-sub-title” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Cairo|700|||||||” text_text_color=”#406fda” text_font_size=”20px” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Contacts<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_5,3_5″ admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”|||20px|false|false” border_width_left=”1px” border_color_left=”#406fda” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.1em” link_font=”|700|||on|||#1a1140|” link_text_color=”#1a1140″ link_line_height=”1.4em” header_4_font=”|700|||||||” header_4_text_color=”#1a1140″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Castelldefels, Barcelona [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”|||20px|false|false” border_width_left=”1px” border_color_left=”#406fda” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1em” link_font=”|700|||on||||” link_text_color=”#1a1140″ header_4_font=”|700|||||||” header_4_text_color=”#1a1140″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC) [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row module_id=”ieec-about” module_class=”about-ieec” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”rgba(64,111,218,0.15)” global_module=”17324″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”20px|50px|20px|50px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Sobre l’IEEC” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”25px” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” header_2_font_size_tablet=”23px” header_2_font_size_phone=”23px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||on||||||” link_font=”|700|||on||||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC \u2014 Institut d\u2019Estudis Espacials de Catalunya) promotes and coordinates space research and technology development in Catalonia for the benefit of society. IEEC fosters collaborations both locally and worldwide and is an efficient agent of knowledge, innovation and technology transfer. As a result of more than 25 years of high-quality research, done in collaboration with major international organisations, IEEC ranks among the best international research centres, focusing on areas such as: astrophysics, cosmology, planetary science, and Earth Observation. IEEC\u2019s engineering division develops instrumentation for ground- and space-based projects, and has extensive experience in working with private or public organisations from the aerospace and other innovation sectors.<\/p>\n The IEEC is a non-profit public sector foundation that was established in February 1996. It has a Board of Trustees composed of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Universitat Aut\u00f2noma de Barcelona (UAB), Universitat Polit\u00e8cnica de Catalunya \u00b7 BarcelonaTech (UPC), and the Spanish Research Council (CSIC). The IEEC is also a CERCA centre.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This work is a first step towards building X-ray pulsar navigation (XNAV) devices and utilising them in small satellites.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":45445,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"2880","footnotes":""},"categories":[110],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-45444","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-highlighted-news-big"],"yoast_head":"\nA viable alternative for the future of space exploration<\/h2>\n
Next steps<\/h2>\n
\n
IEEC Communication Office<\/h4>\n
E-mail: comunicacio@ieec.cat<\/a><\/p>\nLead Researcher at the IEEC<\/h4>\n
Nanda Rea<\/h4>\n
Institute of Space Sciences (ICE-CSIC)
E-mail: rea@ieec.cat,<\/a> rea@ice.csic.es<\/a><\/p>\nAbout the IEEC<\/h2>\n