Multipurpose sun sensor using CCD detector

Attention is given to the concepts considered in the course of Digital Sun Sensor development for the French Earth Observation Satellite Program, as well as to the dynamic and functional tests which led to the choosing of a modular sensor concept offering numerous alternative design possibilities in either low or high altitude orbits. A variety of single- or double-axis sensors can be developed on the same baseline, in keeping with different field of view, accuracy, or data output rate requirements. The calibration principle used provides optimal accuracy in association with an optico-inertial attitude estimator.