Autonomous navigation methods for hybrid constellations using inter-satellite links in cislunar space

Abstract To address the stringent autonomous navigation requirements in cislunar space, this study proposes a hybrid constellation navigation framework utilizing inter-satellite links. It integrates near-rectilinear halo orbits (NRHOs), distant retrograde orbits (DROs), and BeiDou system (BDS) geostationary orbit/inclined geosynchronous orbit satellites into a dual-layer network, employing Ka-band dual one-way ranging and an extended Kalman filter for real-time state estimation. Monte Carlo simulations under high-fidelity dynamics reveal that: Without BDS augmentation, NRHO and DRO satellites achieve 100 m-level 3D accuracy with 5 d arcs, improving to 10 m level with 10 d arcs, and reaching sub-meter (DRO) and meter-level (NRHO) with 15 d arcs. Symmetric NRHO configurations show poor short-arc performance due to geometric correlation. The hybrid constellation with BDS augmentation significantly outperforms standalone lunar constellations, achieving 20–30 m 3D accuracy with just 2 d arcs. The key contribution is the synergistic integration of heterogeneous orbits, leveraging NRHO’s lunar proximity, DRO’s wide coverage, and BDS’s stable Earth reference to enhance autonomy, accuracy, and robustness. This framework reduces ground dependency and provides a scalable solution for future cislunar exploration.