A high-accuracy digital star tracker for advanced planetary missionsThe digital star tracker represents a novel departure from previous analog designs in terms of circuit implementation and operational capabilities. As an element of an all-digital spacecraft control system, it combines proven low-level analog signal processing with digital error control and command functions. Additional capabilities that are obtainable with the digital circuitry include programmable intensity threshold gates, commanded electronic pointing control, and an acquisition/control algorithm which minimizes the effects of straylight disturbances. The capabilities inherent in the implementation have been successfully demonstrated in a laboratory model of the instrument.
Document ID
19740030010
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Salomon, P. M.
Crawford, W. E. (California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena Calif., United States)