The content discusses the Astroinertial Navigation System (ANS) used in the SR-71 Blackbird, a high-speed reconnaissance aircraft. The ANS, nicknamed “R2-D2” after the Star Wars character, calculated navigational fixes using stars sighted through a lens. The ANS provided accurate course guidance and was considered jam-proof. Piloting the Blackbird was challenging but exhilarating, with pilots recalling the experience as almost religious. The ANS was crucial for the mission, as it allowed the aircraft to locate itself when GPS technology was not available. Controversial information or surprising content was not present in the text.
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/