Space Control and Inertial Technology Research Center, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin,ChinaWebsite:Email: |
The star sensors are only sensors available which provide a real-time and the most accurate attitude estimate for ADCS of satellites. Generally, there are two generations of star sensors. The first generation star sensors are limited to outputting star positions in sensor-referenced coordinates. The attitude determination may require additional initial coarse attitude estimate from other sensors. Fortunately, with the availability of very powerful microprocessors being primarily facilitated and large memory for spacecraft use, the second generation star sensors have been developed. The main characteristics of the second generation units are fully autonomous, solution of the Lost-In-Space problem, wide size of FOV, higher accuracy, large internal star catalogs, higher update rate, more robust operation and attitude quaternion reference to inertial space is output directly. The new version of the instrument was developed in order to further miniaturize the system, improve the update rate, the accuracy, dynamic range, the robustness, evolution to low cost, miniature and have multiple CHU configuration. The future star sensors have stock instruments with wide application to a growing variety of space mission.