Title :
Real sky performance of the prototype Ørsted advanced stellar compass
Author :
Eisenman, Allan ; Joergensen, J.L. ; Liebe, C.C.
Author_Institution :
Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Technol., Pasadena, CA, USA
Abstract :
The Danish microsatellite, Orsted, is equipped with an autonomous, advanced stellar compass (ASC). The ASC consists of two separate units, a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) camera head (based on a commercial Sony interline CCD detector) and a data processing unit with a powerful microcomputer (Intel 80486 type processor). The microcomputer memory contains a star catalogue which enables the microcomputer to recognize the constellations of stars in the field of view and thus derive the attitude of the ASC camera head. The mission, and the design, operation, and performance of the ASC are described. Results of ASC prototype tests at the JPL Table Mountain Observatory (TMO) facility are given
Keywords :
CCD image sensors; aerospace instrumentation; artificial satellites; attitude control; compasses; computerised control; computerised instrumentation; geomagnetism; geophysical equipment; magnetic field measurement; magnetometers; microcomputer applications; ASC camera head; CCD camera head; Charge Coupled Device; Danish microsatellite; Intel 80486 type processor; JPL Table Mountain Observatory; Orsted advanced stellar compass; Sony interline CCD detector; autonomous, advanced stellar compass; data processing; microcomputer memory; sky performance; star catalogue; Charge coupled devices; Charge-coupled image sensors; Detectors; Global Positioning System; Magnetic heads; Magnetometers; Microcomputers; Prototypes; Satellites; Testing;
Conference_Titel :
Aerospace Applications Conference, 1996. Proceedings., 1996 IEEE
Conference_Location :
Aspen, CO
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-3196-6
DOI :
10.1109/AERO.1996.495919
