How do Astronuts track there path in space.?

Question

What is the basis of spacecraft trajectory in space. is there any hypothetical XYZ axis defined.

Answer 1

they leave behind a floating trail of bread crumbs

they also build a little xyz axis with them too, and leave it floating in space

Answer 2

They don't.

NASA tracks the radio signals of the spacecraft from the ground. Because they have multiple large radio dishes "counting" every single cycle of the radio signals, they can reconstruct the exact location with enormous precision by triangulation. The largest errors come from having to know the exact position of the dishes on the ground. To accomplish this, the locations of the dishes are calibrated against a set of radio-pulsars which can also be observed.

The spacecraft itself could perform similar navigation tasks by receiving the signal from ground transmitters, but the disadvantage would be that it would have to carry a lot of extra electronics around. Therefor ground based navigation is easier since it does not matter how many racks full of electronic and computers are needed to do precision RF signal processing on the ground.

Answer 3

Presently their flight paths are monitored a couple of ways (at least): by GPS satellites and by a network of radar stations all around the earth.

Answer 4

But if a space craft had to carry it's own equipment it would be computers and radar.