Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #31039: Navigating Space Without GPS: The IMU-DRS Solution

Navigating in space presents unique challenges—there are no roads, no signposts, and GPS doesn’t work far from Earth. The “Inertial-Measurement-Unit-based Dead Reckoning in Space (IMU-DRS)” experiment tackles this issue using mathematical tools and physics.

Dead reckoning means calculating your current position by using a previously known location and estimating how far you’ve moved. The IMU-DRS system uses tiny sensors to detect motion and rotation, helping spacecraft understand where they are, even without GPS.

This technology could be crucial for missions to the Moon, Mars, or deep space where GPS is unavailable. It also helps satellites maneuver more independently and safely. It’s a perfect example of how math, physics, and engineering come together to solve real-world space problems.

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