Low-cost ultraviolet three-axis attitude sensor system

Douglas B. Pledger; James Billings-Ross; Ralph H. Castain; William W. Saylor

doi:10.1117/12.156650

16 September 1993 Low-cost ultraviolet three-axis attitude sensor system

Douglas B. Pledger, James Billings-Ross, Ralph H. Castain, William W. Saylor

Proceedings Volume 1940, Small Satellite Technology and Applications III; (1993) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.156650
Event: Optical Engineering and Photonics in Aerospace Sensing, 1993, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

It is becoming increasingly obvious that satellite bus technologies that have been developed for traditional larger satellite platforms are not always suitable for use with smallsats. This is due to the intrinsic smallsat limitations in size, weight, available power, and cost. The problem is particularly obvious for attitude reference sensors of both the earth and star viewing type. In response to the lack of suitable sensors for this purpose, Honeywell and Los Alamos National Laboratory are developing a system that determines three axis attitude through ultraviolet imaging of the earth's limb and adjacent stars. A nonconventional wide angle optics assembly and intensified CCD array are utilized for this purpose. Because of the stability and predictability of the features being observed and the large number of pixels on which the scene is imaged, it should be possible to obtain accuracies on the order of .02 degrees with a very small and lightweight sensor configuration. A prototype sensor has been fabricated and tested, and has met all performance objectives. A more advanced version is now being developed, and a flight prototype should be completed by the end of 1993.

Citation Download Citation

Douglas B. Pledger, James Billings-Ross, Ralph H. Castain, and William W. Saylor "Low-cost ultraviolet three-axis attitude sensor system", Proc. SPIE 1940, Small Satellite Technology and Applications III, (16 September 1993); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.156650

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