New developments in infra-red sensors for three-axis stabilized satellites

Novel IR sensors have been developed for use aboard three-axis stabilized satellites in earth pointing. For low altitude orbit satellites, a sensor design has been developed which derives from the Netherlands Astronomical Satellite's rotating head sensor, and which exhibits improved precision and operational life. For geostationary satellites, a sensor has been designed which yields lower operating costs while improving accuracy, due both to the self-redundancy of its concept and the superior knowledge gained of the earth's IR horizon through analyses of results from earlier missions' sensors.