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VML (Virtual Machine Language) is an advanced procedural sequencing language which simplifies spacecraft operations, minimizes uplink product size, and allows autonomous operations aboard a mission without the development of autonomous flight software. The language is a mission-independent, high level, human readable script. It features a rich set of data types (including integers, doubles, and strings), named functions, parameters, IF and WHILE control structures, polymorphism, and on-the-fly creation of spacecraft commands from calculated values.

, demonstrated the power of autonomous navigation technology for the Deep Impact Mission. This software is being planned for use as the onboard navigation, tracking and rendezvous system for a Mars Sample Return Mission technology demonstration, and several mission proposals are evaluating its use for rendezvous with, and landing on asteroids. Before this however, extensive re-engineering of AutoNav will take place. This paper describes the AutoNav systems-engineering effort in several areas: extending the capabilities, improving operability, utilizing new hardware elements, and demonstrating the new possibilities of AutoNav in simulations.

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