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A Covariance Analysis Tool for Assessing Fundamental Limits of SIM Pointing PerformanceThis paper presents a performance analysis of the instrument pointing control system for NASA's Space Interferometer Mission (SIM). SIM has a complex pointing system that uses a fast steering mirror in combination with a multirate control architecture to blend feed forward information with feedback information. A pointing covariance analysis tool (PCAT) is developed specifically to analyze systems with such complexity. The development of PCAT as a mathematical tool for covariance analysis is outlined in the paper. PCAT is then applied to studying performance of SIM's science pointing system. The analysis reveals and clearly delineates a fundamental limit that exists for SIM pointing performance. The limit is especially stringent for dim star targets. Discussion of the nature of the performance limit is provided, and methods are suggested to potentially improve pointing performance.
Document ID
20110016058
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Conference Paper
External Source(s)
Authors
Bayard, David S.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Kang, Bryan H.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
August 26, 2007
Subject Category
Space Sciences (General)
Meeting Information
Meeting: 2007 SPIE Optics and Photonics
Location: San Diego, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: August 26, 2007
End Date: August 30, 2007
Sponsors: International Society for Optical Engineering
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
pointing control
covariance analysis
fast steering mirrors
fundamental performance limits

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