A decade of attitude sensors
Abstract
Attitude sensors in the past decade have evolved from simple sun sensors on early rocket missions to the arcsecond-accuracy star sensors used on more modern spacecraft. These sensors are used on both spinning and triaxial-stabilized missions. The evolution of the actual hardware is progressing toward standard sensors developed for NASA and DOD missions. This paper presents the evolution of sensors from early sun sensors through photomultiplier and solid-state star sensors. The design and performance parameters which aid system engineers in selecting sensors for particular missions are presented, permitting tradeoffs between scanners and trackers.
- Publication:
-
Guidance and Control Conference
- Pub Date:
- March 1978
- Bibcode:
- 1978guco.confR....G
- Keywords:
-
- Attitude Indicators;
- Optical Equipment;
- Satellite Orientation;
- Spacecraft Instruments;
- Technology Assessment;
- Charge Coupled Devices;
- Rocket-Borne Instruments;
- Scanners;
- Solar Instruments;
- Solid State Devices;
- Spin Stabilization;
- Star Trackers;
- Spacecraft Instrumentation