Three-axis stabilized, earth-oriented satellite and a corresponding sun and earth acquisition process

US5535965A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Deutsche Aerospace AG · DE

Inventors

• Michael Surauer · Chieming, DE
• Helmut Bittner · Munich, DE
• Walter Fichter · Taufkirchen, DE
• Horst Fischer · Hilden, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 7, 1994
• Grant date: Jul 16, 1996
• Expiry date: Jun 7, 2014

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B64G1/369
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A three-axis stabilized, earth-oriented satellite has an attitude control system with regulators, actuators, an earth sensor that carries out measurements along two axes and a sun-sensor arrangement that also carries out measurements along two axes. The field of view of the sun-sensor arrangement covers the round angle on a plane of the satellite-fixed coordinate system. Only the sun-sensor arrangement and the earth sensor act as measurement transducers. A sun and earth acquisition process for such a satellite has the following steps: seeking the sun; setting the sun vector in a first direction of reference; setting the speed of rotation of the satellite around the sun vector at a constant value; setting the sun vector in a second direction of reference, so that by rotating the satellite around the latter the optical axis of the earth sensor sweeps over the earth; and picking up the earth. Special regulating rules are disclosed.