Solar maximum mission fine pointing sun sensor dawn and dusk errors flight data and model analysisSMM flight system control errors occurring at spacecraft dawn and dusk are analyzed. The errors are associated with the fine pointing sun sensor (FPSS), which is a primary component of the SMM attitude control system. It is shown that the source of the FPSS dawn/dusk distortion is the incomplete masking of sunlight reflected off the earth by the optical baffle covering the FPSS sensor heads onboard the SMM during periods of orbit dawn and dusk. For the most part, the modeled behavior of the FPSS under dawn and dusk lighting conditions matches the observed behavior in the SMM flight data.
Document ID
19890025314
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Kulp, D. R. (Computer Sciences Corp. Silver Spring, MD, United States)