Overview of optical navigation for asteroid exploration descent and landing

Autonomous optical navigation is a key technology for asteroid exploration missions. Terrain relative navigation methods based on optical images have been successfully applied in previous asteroid exploration missions. Optical navigation uses features such as the asteroid's surface topography and albedo to accurately establish reference datums and navigation landmarks, and give precise relative positions, attitudes, and velocities during descent based on the matching results of real-time observation images. The development of optical navigation technology for asteroid probe descent and landing was reviewed, and its key technologies and development trends were summarized, which provided a reference for China's asteroid exploration mission.