Results of Skylab experiment T00-2, manual navigation sightings

Abstract

An analysis of navigation data collected using a hand-held space sextant on the second and third manned Skylab missions was presented. From performance data and astronaut comments it was determined that: (1) the space sextant, the sighting station, and the sighting techniques require modification; (2) the sighting window must be of good optical quality; (3) astronaut performance was stable over long mission time; and (4) sightings made with a hand-held sextant were accurate and precise enough for reliable interplanetary manual navigation