Validating Microsatellite Star Tracker Baffle Tests

摘要

This paper discusses the historical challenges of atmospheric stray light testing for star trackers relevant to small research groups. We define optical system attenuation targets for a baffled star tracker system using a probabilistic analysis of false detection rates that is independent of a baffle design. Using our hybridized stray light analysis techniques, we obtain attenuation curves for the Sinclair Interplanetary ST-16 baffled star tracker, and we validate our analysis by performing stray light analysis on the baffle independently from the sensor. Solar exclusion angles are defined by combining the attenuation targets and the system attenuation curve, of which we explore in-depth by using ray tracing path information from Zemax OpticStudio 14. These techniques should prove invaluable for small research groups who do not have the financial means to expedite the stray light analysis of their star tracker system to a professional third party laboratory.