Attitude determination system and method
US6289268A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 2, 2000 |
| Grant date | Sep 11, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 2, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64G1/244
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A star tracker coupled to the spacecraft having a star catalog associated therewith. A sun sensor is coupled to the spacecraft. A control processor is coupled to the star tracker and the sun sensor. The processor obtains star data using a star tracker and an on-board star catalog. The processor generates a coarse attitude of the spacecraft as a function of the star data, and establishes a track on at least one star in the on-board star catalog. The processor calculates a sun tracking rate, and obtains a normal phase attitude as a function of the star data and the coarse attitude. The information is used to slew the spacecraft to a desired attitude.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.