Application of a harmonic approximation to the processing of measurements in spacecraft attitude determinations

An algorithm is proposed for processing measurement data obtained by optical sensors to determine the attitude of a spin-stabilized spacecraft (to check whether the solar panels are properly oriented toward the sun). The algorithm is based on determining the constant (over fixed intervals of time) parameters of a harmonic approximation of the law governing the motion of the spacecraft about its center of mass. The approximation error is shown to be less than 0.5 deg.