Attitude-acquisition methods and systems for controlled spacecraft attitude
US6766227B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 19, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jul 20, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 19, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64G1/369
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Attitude acquisition methods and systems are provided which reduce the time generally required to acquire spacecraft attitude estimates and enhance the probability of realizing such estimates. The methods and systems receive, over a time span &Dgr;t, successive frames of star-sensor signals that correspond to successive stellar fields-of-view, estimate spacecraft rotation &Dgr;r throughout at least a portion of the time span &Dgr;t, and, in response to the spacecraft rotation &Dgr;r, process the star-sensor signals into a processed set of star-sensor signals that denote star positions across an expanded field-of-view that exceeds any of the successive fields-of-view. The expanded field-of-view facilitates identification of the stars that generated the processed set of star-sensor signals to thereby acquire an initial attitude estimate.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.