What does RGA mean in NASA

A Rate Gyro Assembly (RGA) is an assembly of rate gyroscopes that provides angular speed and position information to the guidance system. It measures angular velocity in real time, providing information on the yaw, pitch and roll sensors used in modern aircraft.

A Rate Gyro Assembly uses a combination of mechanical and electromechanical components to measure the rate of change in direction or orientation with respect to time. The most common type of rate gyro assembly uses a spinning rotor surrounded by electrodes which produce fluctuations from which angular velocity can be measured.

Rate Gyro Assemblies are used primarily in navigation and missile guidance systems in aviation, marine, and land-based vehicles. They are also used extensively in robotics applications such as automated drones, self-driving cars, guided missiles, etc.

The accuracy of a rate gyro depends on its precision design as well as other variables such as temperature stability and noise interference. Generally speaking rate gyros provide very accurate measurements up to one degree per second or less depending on their design quality and environmental conditions at work.

Most rate gyrocopes have long service lives with minimal maintenance requirements but it's important to check up on them regularly for best performance results. Regular inspections should be done every six months to ensure all parts are working correctly.