Abstract: Algorithm for X-ray pulsar-based navigation using a single detector in the deep space exploration is proposed.The measurement information obtained from a single detector at different measurement times is used to establish an improved measurement model,and then deep space spacecraft need not to carry many X-ray detectors to navigate.The obsevabiltiy of the navigation system with available measurement schemes is investigated using a linear obsevability analysis.The analysis shows that spacecraft should measure various X-ray pulsars at different measurement times in order to get a desirable performance of the navigation system.Corresponding simulations are given.The results of the simulations show that the navigation accuracy of the algorithm is similar with that of traditional algorithm.The results of this work show that the quality of an X-ray pulsar-based navigation system can be reduced greatly by using this algorithm and that this algorithm can provide a possible method of the industrialization of X-ray pulsar-based navigation.