Session
Poster Session II
Event Website
https://www.smallsat.org/index
Abstract
This paper explores how star color affects the design, calibration, and operation of star trackers. We develop a series of tools that characterize the chromatic performance of a star tracker and suggest how this information can be used in the design (e.g., selection of detector, lens, and catalog stars), and calibration (e.g., focusing, and camera calibration) of a star tracker to maximize sensor performance. We also present a simple per-star focal length correction aimed at minimizing arc length errors due to chromatic effects. Evaluating these corrections with on-orbit data from six different star trackers shows these corrections typically provide improvements of 3 − 15% in the arc-length RMSE ratio. The tools and corrections illustrate the many ways that engineers must account for color in the design of high performance star trackers.
Document Type
Event
Characterization of Chromatic Effects in Small Star Trackers
This paper explores how star color affects the design, calibration, and operation of star trackers. We develop a series of tools that characterize the chromatic performance of a star tracker and suggest how this information can be used in the design (e.g., selection of detector, lens, and catalog stars), and calibration (e.g., focusing, and camera calibration) of a star tracker to maximize sensor performance. We also present a simple per-star focal length correction aimed at minimizing arc length errors due to chromatic effects. Evaluating these corrections with on-orbit data from six different star trackers shows these corrections typically provide improvements of 3 − 15% in the arc-length RMSE ratio. The tools and corrections illustrate the many ways that engineers must account for color in the design of high performance star trackers.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/smallsat/2016/Poster2/5
