How is guidance using the inertial guidance systems achieved?
ANSWER from Victoriano Untalan on July 12, 1999: The Space Shuttle has Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) which are a combination of gyros and accelerometers on an inertially fixed platform. The spinning gyros keep a platform inertially fixed in space so it doesn’t move with respect to the stars. The shuttle moves about this fixed platform by a set of gimbals. Sensors called resolvers detect the angle in which the shuttle moved with respect to the inertially fixed platform. The accelerometers measure changes in velocity (acceleration). The space shuttle position and velocity with respect to the earth are derived from the accumulation of these measurements over time. For more information visit the Scientific and Technical Information website. http://www.nasa.gov/techinfo.html Return to top.
