section_path: Methods of navigation/Inertial navigation/Space navigation
section_name: Space navigation
paragraph_text: Space navigation
  
  Not to be confused with satellite navigation, which depends upon satellites to function, space navigation refers to the navigation of spacecraft themselves. This has historically been achieved (during the Apollo program) via a navigational computer, an Inertial navigation system, and via celestial inputs entered by astronauts which were recorded by sextant and telescope. Space rated navigational computers, like those found on Apollo and later missions, are designed to be hardened against possible data corruption from radiation.
  
  Another possibility that has been explored for deep space navigation is Pulsar navigation, which compares the X-ray bursts from a collection of known pulsars in order to determine the position of a spacecraft. This method has been tested by multiple space agencies, such as NASA and ESA.