Accurate Star Tracker Simulation with Orbital Data Verification
Abstract
In this study we improve simulation and testing procedures for star trackers to evaluate sensor performance in dynamic conditions. These high fidelity simulations use star trackers calibration parameters, mission trajectory and a star catalog to predict sensor accuracy and availability of an attitude solution. To achieve high fidelity simulations, we consider factors such as star characteristics, lens effects like vignetting and distortion, spacecraft slew rate, and the shape of imaged stars under dynamic conditions. We use ST-16 series star trackers on-orbit data as a benchmark to simulate a sequence of images representing the returned telemetry from the sensor. This work unifies and relates the simulation, lab testing, and on-orbit results such that they can be used for studying and optimizing the star tracker. Validating of our simulations against separate on-orbit telemetry sets, we achieved measurement noise on same order of magnitude.
Accurate Star Tracker Simulation with Orbital Data Verification
In this study we improve simulation and testing procedures for star trackers to evaluate sensor performance in dynamic conditions. These high fidelity simulations use star trackers calibration parameters, mission trajectory and a star catalog to predict sensor accuracy and availability of an attitude solution. To achieve high fidelity simulations, we consider factors such as star characteristics, lens effects like vignetting and distortion, spacecraft slew rate, and the shape of imaged stars under dynamic conditions. We use ST-16 series star trackers on-orbit data as a benchmark to simulate a sequence of images representing the returned telemetry from the sensor. This work unifies and relates the simulation, lab testing, and on-orbit results such that they can be used for studying and optimizing the star tracker. Validating of our simulations against separate on-orbit telemetry sets, we achieved measurement noise on same order of magnitude.
