Space Observation Data Processing of XPNAV-01

The pulsar navigation test satellite 01 (XPNAV-01) is the first space test platform dedicated to exploring the verification of X-ray pulsar navigation technology in China. It has collected a large amount of scientific observation data in orbit, which can be used for scientific research and timing navigation analysis. In this work, more than three years of observations of the Crab pulsar of XPNAV-01 are analyzed, and the pulse profiles of the Crab pulsar each orbit, day and year are obtained. The experimental goal of the satellite being able to accurately “see” the pulsar was achieved. The pulse profiles of four energy bands based on the observation data of XPNAV-01 are reported for the first time in China, and their variation trends with energy are in good agreement with the observation results abroad. A variety of parameters are used to comprehensively evaluate the change of the Crab pulsar’s pulse profile shape over time. It is found that the distribution of each parameter is relatively uniform, and the standard deviation of each parameter is small. The estimated single pulse arrival time accuracy is about 83 μs. All these results indicate that the X-ray detector independently developed in China has a good in-orbit operation status in its first four years.