Satellite Attitude Determination Using a CCD (Charge-Coupled-Device) Star Camera

摘要

The star tracker experiment will demonstrate accurate, near real time, autonomous satellite attitude determination using a state-of-the-art charge-coupled-device star camera. The experiment will fly on a NASA spacecraft, designed to carry and support experimental payloads, and launched for a 40-hour mission from the space shuttle, and then retrieved for return to earth. The new camera and attitude software represent a significant step toward spacecraft autonomy. The experiment design and algorithm are discussed, along with a brief description of the data analysis plans. Features needed to improve the system to support a mapping application are also discussed.