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/ [INS::INS] Log In Sign Up The Aviation Geek ClubThe Aviation Geek Club The Aviation Geek Club * Categories + Aircraft Carriers + Airshows + Aviation History + Aviation Humor + Books + Civil Aviation + Cold War Era + Drones + F-14 Tomcat + Helicopters + Losses/Aviation Safety + MiG Killers + Military Aviation + Space + SR-71 Blackbird + SR-71 Top Speed + Naval Warfare + U.S. Navy + Warbirds + Weapons + Yearly Summary * About us * Partners Perks * Advertise With Us * Log In Sign Up The Aviation Geek ClubThe Aviation Geek Club The Aviation Geek Club * Categories Aircraft CarriersAirshowsAviation HistoryAviation HumorBooksCivil AviationCold War EraDronesF-14 TomcatHelicoptersLosses/Aviation SafetyMiG KillersMilitary AviationSpaceSR-71 BlackbirdSR-71 Top SpeedNaval WarfareU.S. NavyWarbirdsWeaponsYearly Summary * About us * Partners Perks * Advertise With Us * Homepage Cold War EraThe 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 [INS::INS] 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 * Cold War Era * Military Aviation * SR-71 Blackbird 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 [svg][8cce4929ef6f] By Linda Sheffield Miller Sep 24 2023 [INS::INS] Share this article Mounted behind the SR-71 Blackbird RSO's cockpit, this unit, (that was affectionately dubbed "R2-D2" after the Star Wars movie came out in 1977) computed navigational fixes using stars sighted through the lens in the top of the unit. SR-71 T-ShirtsSR-71 T-ShirtsCLICK HERE to see The Aviation Geek Club contributor Linda Sheffield's T-shirt designs! Linda has a personal relationship with the SR-71 because her father Butch Sheffield flew the Blackbird from test flight in 1965 until 1973. Butch's Granddaughter's Lisa Burroughs and Susan Miller are graphic designers. They designed most of the merchandise that is for sale on Threadless. A percentage of the profits go to Flight Test Museum at Edwards Air Force Base. This nonprofit charity is personal to the Sheffield family because they are raising money to house SR-71, #955. This was the first Blackbird that Butch Sheffield flew on Oct. 4, 1965. The SR-71, unofficially known as the "Blackbird," was a long-range, Mach 3+, strategic reconnaissance aircraft developed from the Lockheed A-12 and YF-12A aircraft. The first flight of an SR-71 took place on Dec. 22, 1964, and the first SR-71 to enter service was delivered to the 4200th (later 9th) Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base, Calif., in January 1966. The Blackbird was in a different category from anything that had come before. "Everything had to be invented. Everything," Skunk Works legendary aircraft designer Kelly Johnson recalled in an interesting article appeared on Lockheed Martin website. Experience gained from the A-12 program convinced the US Air Force that flying the SR-71 safely required two crew members, a pilot and a Reconnaissance Systems Officer (RSO). The RSO operated with the wide array of monitoring and defensive systems installed on the airplane. This equipment included a sophisticated Electronic Counter Measures (ECM) system that could jam most acquisition and targeting radar and the Nortronics NAS-14V2 Astroinertial Navigation System (ANS). 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 daylightThe 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 daylightSR-71 Astroinertial Navigation System [INS::INS] According to the Smithsonian Institution website, the ANS provided rapid celestial navigation fixes for the SR-71. Mounted behind the SR-71 RSO's cockpit, this unit (that was affectionately dubbed "R2-D2" after the Star Wars movie came out in 1977), computed navigational fixes using stars sighted through the lens in the top of the unit. These fixes were used to update the inertial navigation system and provided course guidance with an accuracy of at least 90 meters (300 feet). Some current aircraft and missile systems use improved versions as a backup to GPS. About the ANS RSOs were known to say, "no one can jam or shoot down the sun, the moon, the planets or the stars." Piloting the Blackbird was an unforgiving endeavor, demanding total concentration. But pilots were giddy with their complex, adrenaline-fueled responsibilities. "At 85,000 feet and Mach 3, it was almost a religious experience," said Air Force Colonel Jim Watkins. "Nothing had prepared me to fly that fast... My God, even now, I get goose bumps remembering." The SR-71 Astroinertial Navigation System, aka R2-D2, was crucial in Blackbird mission. Here's why.The SR-71 Astroinertial Navigation System, aka R2-D2, was crucial in Blackbird mission. Here's why. But once the SR-71 reached cruising speed and altitude, it was time to focus on the mission, which was to collect information about hostile and potentially hostile nations using cameras and sensors. The pilot's job was to handle the aircraft and watch over the automatic systems to make sure they were doing their jobs properly. Meanwhile, the RSO handled the cameras, sensors, and the all-important ANS. The ANS was the 1960's version of GPS, but instead of using satellites to locate itself, the ANS used the stars. This is because before the invention of the modern satnav networks there wasn't a way to navigate the SR-71 in the areas where it operated. The SR-71 needed to be able to fix its position within 1,885 feet (575 m) and within 300 ft (91 m) of the center of its flight path while traveling at high speeds for up to ten hours in the air. The ANS provided specific pinpoint targets located in hostile territory. It was a Gyro compass that was able to sense the rotation of the earth, while still on the runway before the SR-71 would take off. The RSO could use his coordinates of the spot ....of one place ...on the runway ...then read of the ANS. They were almost always exactly the same. Not always were the same stars were used on every mission, as they used the stars depending on what part of the world they were going to fly to. If flying in the southern hemisphere* they used only the stars that were seen there. SR-71 printSR-71 printThis print is available in multiple sizes from AircraftProfilePrints.com - CLICK HERE TO GET YOURS. SR-71A Blackbird 61-7972 "Skunkworks" On Jul. 2, 1967 Blackbird crew Jim Watkins and Dave Dempster flew the first international sortie in SR-71A #17972 when the ANS failed on a training mission and they accidentally flew in to Mexican airspace. The ANS works by tracking at least two stars at a time listed in an onboard catalog, and with the aid of a chronometer, calculates a fix of the SR-71 over the ground. It was programmed before each flight and the aircraft's primary alignment and the flight plan was recorded on a punched tape that told the aircraft where to go, when to turn, and when to turn the sensors on and off. The stars were sighted through a special quartz window (located behind the RSO cockpit) and there was a special star tracker that could see the stars even in daylight. *It is not confirmed if the SR-71 ever flew in the southern hemisphere. Be sure to check out Linda Sheffield Miller, Col Richard (Butch) Sheffield's daughter, Col. Sheffield was an SR-71 Reconnaissance Systems Officer) Facebook Page Habubrats for awesome Blackbird's photos and stories. Photo credit: Lockheed Martin, U.S. Air Force, Star Wars/Kristen DelValle and Daderot Own Work via Wikipedia Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird modelLockheed SR-71 Blackbird modelThis model is available in multiple sizes from AirModels - CLICK HERE TO GET YOURS. Share this article [INS::INS] [svg][8cce4929ef6f] [svg][8cce4929ef6f] Linda Sheffield Miller Linda Sheffield Miller Grew up at Beale Air Force Base, California. I am a Habubrat. Graduated from North Dakota State University. Former Public School Substitute Teacher, (all subjects all grades). Member of the DAR (Daughters of the Revolutionary War). I am interested in History, especially the history of SR-71. Married, Mother of three wonderful daughters and four extremely handsome grandsons. I live near Washington, DC. You may also like Did you know the SR-71 Blackbird had a Smart Valve that allowed to use JP-7 fuel as internal coolant? Cold War Era / Military Aviation / SR-71 Blackbird The SR-71 Blackbird had a Smart Valve that allowed to use JP-7 fuel as internal coolant. Here's how it worked. Aug 20 2023 By Linda Sheffield Miller After an A-12 flight specks of insects hoisted from the atomic test explosions in Russia and China were found on the Oxcart windshield Aviation History / Cold War Era / SR-71 Blackbird CIA engineer recalls when specks of insects hoisted from atomic tests in Russia and China were found on an A-12 windshield after an Oxcart mission Jul 16 2023 By Linda Sheffield Miller SR-71 crew chief explains why the Blackbird never stopped to leak fuel and why SR-71s on public display are still weeping JP-7 today Cold War Era / Losses and Aviation Safety / Military Aviation / SR-71 Blackbird SR-71 crew chief explains why the Blackbird never stopped to leak fuel and why SR-71s on public display are still weeping JP-7 today Sep 17 2023 By Linda Sheffield Miller Leave a comment Cancel reply You must be logged in to post a comment. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. 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