Navigation studies utilizing the NRL-801 experiment and the ARGOS satellite

The NRL-801 (USA) experiment and other systems on the ARGOS (P91-1) satellite to be launched in 1995 can be used as a testbed for satellite navigational techniques, to explore unconventional means of measuring a satellite's position, velocity, acceleration, attitude and the local time. One way this is done is with measurements made using x-ray sensors. Parameters can be estimated onboard and verified through redundant determinations. The ARGOS satellite is being built under the Air Force Space Test Program. It carries eight experiments, three of which utilize far-ultraviolet (FUV) or extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) sensors and one of which (NRL-801) is an x-ray sensor. Among the ARGOS experiments NRL-801 uniquely has satellite navigation experiments as one of its prime objectives, with special design features supporting that purpose.