Space experiments on X-ray pulsar navigation: Progress and prospects

As a new spacecraft autonomous navigation technology, X-ray pulsar-based Navigation (XNAV) is one of the most promising navigation technologies for deep space exploration. The concept of XNAV was proposed in the 1980 s. After decades of development, XNAV gradually moves from theoretical research to space experiments. This paper introduced the space experiments on pulsar navigation completed at home and abroad in recent years, analyzed the signal processing methods, navigation methods and the X-ray detectors used in XNAV space experiments, and summarized the shortcomings of China’s XNAV space experiments in terms of on-orbit calculation and X-ray detectors. Based on the current situation of space experiments and the practical needs of engineering applications, the future development needs of XNAV are discussed.