5 ms·
No, it needed to lock onto the right star, the one that matched the coordinates. Otherwise, it would be pointing in a random direction. The navigator would chec
by kens 6mo ago
No, it needed to lock onto the right star, the one that matched the coordinates. Otherwise, it would be pointing in a random direction. The navigator would check against three different stars to detect an error.
The system could also use planets or even the sun for navigation. A special filter was used with the sun to avoid burning out the photomultiplier tube.
- js2 6mo agoAh, so it could be used in the daytime. I read the whole article assuming it was only useful at night. (When else would you be flying a bomber and need high accuracy?)
- teamonkey 6mo agoThe SR-71’s star tracker was so sensitive it could track stars during the day. https://theaviationgeekclub.com/the-sr-71-blackbird-astro-nav-system-aka-r2-d2-worked-by-tracking-the-stars-and-was-so-powerful-that-it-could-see-the-stars-even-in-daylight/ https://theaviationgeekclub.com/the-sr-71-blackbird-astro-na...
- spiritplumber 6mo agobeing halfway to space probably helped