A star pattern recognition algorithm for the double-FOV star sensor

A reliable attitude determination system is critical to the success of spacecrafts. As high accuracy and high reliability devices, star sensors play an important role in attitude determination for satellites. Based on the star images sampled by star sensors, the locations of the star image in the star sensor coordinate system can be identified with identification algorithms. With the help of the coordinates of the star images in the field of view (FOV), a three-axis attitude of the star sensor in the inertial coordinate can be calculated and then the attitude of the satellites can be calculated through coordinate transforming. However, the star pattern recognition algorithm is the most important for attitude determination of star sensors. The probability of success and the time to identify stars of the star pattern recognition algorithm are the key factors for star sensors.