NASA Satellites Navigate Without GPS

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NASA has tested a new way for small satellites to find their position in space without GPS. The test was part of the Starling mission, which uses four small satellites called CubeSats. The new system is named FALCON. It helps a satellite look at stars and other objects in space, compare them with stored information, and calculate where it is. This is a form of independent navigation because the spacecraft can do important work without waiting for people on Earth.

GPS works well near Earth, but its signals can be weak or unavailable near the Moon or farther away. FALCON uses a star-tracker camera, an instrument that normally helps a spacecraft understand which direction it is facing. During the test, the camera also observed other satellites and pieces of space debris. The system compared these observations with a catalog of known objects and used them as reference points. In this way, Starling could estimate its own orbit.

The experiment also improved information about other objects in space. The satellite carried a catalog of about 20,000 objects. Over three days, FALCON improved the known orbits of more than 200 of them without help from operators on the ground. Better information can support collision avoidance, which means helping spacecraft stay away from dangerous objects.

NASA says this technology could help future groups of satellites work near the Moon or Mars. It may also help scientists combine measurements from several places in space. Later in 2026, the four Starling satellites are expected to share tracking information and improve their positions together. The test is an important step toward spacecraft that can travel and work more independently.