A low cost, high precision star sensor

Date
1995-12
Authors
Jacobs, M. J.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Sunsat microsatellite is being developed at the University of Stellenbosch. It is equipped with a high resolution earth imager which requires a sophisticated attitude determination and control system. Precise control of the satellite is impossible without high precision attitude sensors. The most accurate attitude sensor presently used by satellites is the star sensor. The aim 'of this thesis is to develop a low cost, high precision star sensor for the Sunsat microsatellite. The development included the selection of electronic and optical hardware followed by the design, construction and testing of the sensor. Software algorithms were developed and programmed to control the imager, extract stars from images and match the observed constellations to a star catalogue. A set of matching observed and reference vectors are passed to the attitude determination and control system which calculates the three axis orientation of the satellite.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Sunsat mikrosatelliet word tans by die Universiteit van Stellenbosch ontwikkel. Dit is toegerus met 'n hoeresolusie aardwaarnemingskamera en vereis 'n gevorderde orientasiebepaling-en beheerstelsel. Presiese beheer is onmoontlik sonder akkurate sensore. 'n Stersensor is die mees akkurate tipe sensor waarmee satelliete tans toegerus word. Die doelwit van hierdie tesis is die ontwikkeling van 'n hoe resolusie, laekoste stersensor vir die Sunsat mikrosatelliet. Die ontwikkeling behels die seleksie van elektroniese en optiese apparatuur wat gevolg is deur die ontwerp, opbou en toets van die sensor. Programmatuur algoritrnes is ontwerp om die kamera te beheer, sterre in fotos te herken en waargenome konstellasies in die sterkatalogus te vind. 'n Stel waargenome en verwysingsvektore stel die orientasiebepaling-en beheerstelsel in staat om die orientasie van die satelliet te bereken.
Description
Thesis (MEng (Electrical and Electronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 1995.
189 leaves single sided printed, preliminary pages and numbered pages 1-126. Includes bibliography, list of appendixes, figures, notation and symbols. Digitized at 300 dpi (OCR), using a Bizhub 250 Scanner.
Keywords
SUNSAT, Microsatellite, Dissertations -- Electronic engineering, Theses -- Electronic engineering, Artificial satellites, Detectors
Citation