Research on Guide Star Distribution of Sub-Arcsecond Attitude Determination for Microsatellites Reusing Scientific Cameras
Onboard scientific cameras are reused in attitude determination to meet the sub-arcsecond attitude determination accuracy requirements of microsatellites. This approach does not require an additional payload for microsatellites. It involves reusing high-quality optical lenses from the scientific cam...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Electronics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9292/13/1/228 |
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| author | Qin Lin Peng Qiu Sibo Zhang Chao Wang |
| author_facet | Qin Lin Peng Qiu Sibo Zhang Chao Wang |
| author_sort | Qin Lin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Onboard scientific cameras are reused in attitude determination to meet the sub-arcsecond attitude determination accuracy requirements of microsatellites. This approach does not require an additional payload for microsatellites. It involves reusing high-quality optical lenses from the scientific camera and utilizing the peripheral high-quality imaging areas of its square-shaped detector. Separate detectors are placed within these areas as attitude determination detectors to obtain star patterns for closed-loop attitude determination, thereby achieving high-precision attitude determination for microsatellites. The star patterns obtained using this method may pose specific issues due to the relative positions of stars. Through an analysis of the theoretical model that examines the relationship between attitude determination accuracy and the main influencing factors, it is indicated that guide star distribution is one of the main, complex factors determining attitude determination accuracy. A further simulation analysis was conducted on the specific impact of two guide star distribution characteristics—namely, the coverage of guide stars in the attitude determination areas and the proportion of the average field of view occupied by the guide star triangles to the total field of view of the attitude determination areas—on attitude determination accuracy. This study concludes that when the measurement error of the guide stars is bigger than the attitude determination accuracy requirement for its area configuration, four attitude determination areas should be configured. Four attitude determination areas should be prioritized when the measurement error is equal to or smaller than the attitude determination accuracy requirement, followed by the option to configure three attitude determination areas or two symmetric attitude determination areas. When selecting guide stars for star pattern recognition, the guide stars should cover the attitude determination areas as much as possible, and guide stars with a higher proportion of the average field of view occupied by the guide star triangles to the total field of view should be chosen. Finally, experimental validation was conducted using star patterns from dense star fields and sparse star fields. The research results provide an important reference for the optimization of attitude determination area configuration, navigation star catalog construction, and star pattern recognition algorithm research for microsatellites equipped with scientific cameras. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T15:08:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a979ada7c1684a1aa7e332811f97e79f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-9292 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T15:08:42Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Electronics |
| spelling | doaj.art-a979ada7c1684a1aa7e332811f97e79f2024-01-10T14:55:19ZengMDPI AGElectronics2079-92922024-01-0113122810.3390/electronics13010228Research on Guide Star Distribution of Sub-Arcsecond Attitude Determination for Microsatellites Reusing Scientific CamerasQin Lin0Peng Qiu1Sibo Zhang2Chao Wang3Qian Xuesen Laboratory of Space Technology, China Academy of Space Technology, Beijing 100094, ChinaKey Laboratory of Optical Astronomy, National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, ChinaQian Xuesen Laboratory of Space Technology, China Academy of Space Technology, Beijing 100094, ChinaQian Xuesen Laboratory of Space Technology, China Academy of Space Technology, Beijing 100094, ChinaOnboard scientific cameras are reused in attitude determination to meet the sub-arcsecond attitude determination accuracy requirements of microsatellites. This approach does not require an additional payload for microsatellites. It involves reusing high-quality optical lenses from the scientific camera and utilizing the peripheral high-quality imaging areas of its square-shaped detector. Separate detectors are placed within these areas as attitude determination detectors to obtain star patterns for closed-loop attitude determination, thereby achieving high-precision attitude determination for microsatellites. The star patterns obtained using this method may pose specific issues due to the relative positions of stars. Through an analysis of the theoretical model that examines the relationship between attitude determination accuracy and the main influencing factors, it is indicated that guide star distribution is one of the main, complex factors determining attitude determination accuracy. A further simulation analysis was conducted on the specific impact of two guide star distribution characteristics—namely, the coverage of guide stars in the attitude determination areas and the proportion of the average field of view occupied by the guide star triangles to the total field of view of the attitude determination areas—on attitude determination accuracy. This study concludes that when the measurement error of the guide stars is bigger than the attitude determination accuracy requirement for its area configuration, four attitude determination areas should be configured. Four attitude determination areas should be prioritized when the measurement error is equal to or smaller than the attitude determination accuracy requirement, followed by the option to configure three attitude determination areas or two symmetric attitude determination areas. When selecting guide stars for star pattern recognition, the guide stars should cover the attitude determination areas as much as possible, and guide stars with a higher proportion of the average field of view occupied by the guide star triangles to the total field of view should be chosen. Finally, experimental validation was conducted using star patterns from dense star fields and sparse star fields. The research results provide an important reference for the optimization of attitude determination area configuration, navigation star catalog construction, and star pattern recognition algorithm research for microsatellites equipped with scientific cameras.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9292/13/1/228microsatelliteattitude determinationsub-arcsecondguide star distribution |
| spellingShingle | Qin Lin Peng Qiu Sibo Zhang Chao Wang Research on Guide Star Distribution of Sub-Arcsecond Attitude Determination for Microsatellites Reusing Scientific Cameras Electronics microsatellite attitude determination sub-arcsecond guide star distribution |
| title | Research on Guide Star Distribution of Sub-Arcsecond Attitude Determination for Microsatellites Reusing Scientific Cameras |
| title_full | Research on Guide Star Distribution of Sub-Arcsecond Attitude Determination for Microsatellites Reusing Scientific Cameras |
| title_fullStr | Research on Guide Star Distribution of Sub-Arcsecond Attitude Determination for Microsatellites Reusing Scientific Cameras |
| title_full_unstemmed | Research on Guide Star Distribution of Sub-Arcsecond Attitude Determination for Microsatellites Reusing Scientific Cameras |
| title_short | Research on Guide Star Distribution of Sub-Arcsecond Attitude Determination for Microsatellites Reusing Scientific Cameras |
| title_sort | research on guide star distribution of sub arcsecond attitude determination for microsatellites reusing scientific cameras |
| topic | microsatellite attitude determination sub-arcsecond guide star distribution |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9292/13/1/228 |
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