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INTRODUCTION

The mission of the last lunar navigator ended in May of 1973 when the Soviet Lunokhod-2, after a journey of 4 months and 37 kilometers, ceased its travels across the lunar surface. Since that time no wheeled vehicle or astronaut has visited the Moon, and there has been no further need to study lunar surface navigation. That changed in 1989 when President Bush proposed a return to the Moon in the early part of the next century. Japan has also expressed interest in returning to the Moon, so further development of the art and science of lunar navigation is in order. Such work could be easily accomplished today, laying a groundwork for future lunar navigators.

In the wake of Lunakhod, and also of the U.S. Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle, there remains a valuable body of knowledge and experience pertaining to lunar surface navigation, but there will be a gap of decades by the time this information is needed again. The purpose of this project is to help bridge that gap by reviewing the work that has already been done, and by examining current and future work in state-of-the-art navigation technology. It is also intended to provide a general introduction to lunar surface navigation for those interested in this area of study, but who are not familiar with the art and science of navigation. As such, the text is generally organized to progress from simpler concepts to more complex ones.

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