Star trackers for attitude determination

Author

Liebe, Carl Christian

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electrophys., Tech. Univ. Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark

Volume

10

Issue

6

fYear

1995

fDate

6/1/1995 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

10

Lastpage

16

Abstract

One problem comes to all spacecrafts using vector information. That is the problem of determining the attitude. This paper describes how the area of attitude determination instruments has evolved from simple pointing devices into the latest technology, which determines the attitude by utilizing a CCD camera and a powerful microcomputer. The instruments are called star trackers and they are capable of determining the attitude with an accuracy better than 1 arcsecond. The concept of the star tracker is explained. The obtainable accuracy is calculated, the numbers of stars to be included in the star catalogue are discussed and the acquisition of the initial attitude is explained. Finally the commercial market for star trackers is discussed

Keywords

CCD image sensors; aerospace computing; aerospace instrumentation; microcomputer applications; signal processing equipment; CCD camera; attitude determination; hyperacuity; microcomputer; multiple stars; pointing devices; spacecraft; star trackers; vector information; Extraterrestrial measurements; Gyroscopes; Infrared detectors; Instruments; Magnetic field measurement; Magnetic sensors; Position measurement; Space technology; Space vehicles; Sun;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Aerospace and Electronic Systems Magazine, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0885-8985

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/62.387971

Filename

387971