SPACECRAFT ATTITUDE AND BODY RATE ESTIMATION WITH MULTI-HEAD STAR SENSOR: CONCEPT, DESIGN AND ON-ORBIT RESULTS

摘要

We have developed a star sensor system with four heads as a prototype of a future small and low-priced satellite attitude controller. To reduce size and cost of the controller, we integrate attitude sensors into star sensors with medium resolution and medium sensitivity and adopt Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) electrical parts for key parts such as CPU and CCD. After its basic design was verified by on-orbit tests, the proposed star sensor system was installed on the 2nd verification satellite of the Space Environment Reliability Verification Integrated System (SERVIS-2) as a primary attitude information source. The SERVIS-2 was launched on June 2nd, 2010 and had been operated smoothly until it ended its mission on June 3rd, 2011. We summarize the concept and design of the proposed star sensor system and report some highlights from the on-orbit results.