초록 ▼

An apparatus for star catalog equalization to enhance attitude determination includes a star tracker, a star catalog and a controller. The star tracker is used to sense the positions of stars and generate signals corresponding to the positions of the stars as seen in its field of view. The star cata

An apparatus for star catalog equalization to enhance attitude determination includes a star tracker, a star catalog and a controller. The star tracker is used to sense the positions of stars and generate signals corresponding to the positions of the stars as seen in its field of view. The star catalog contains star location data that is stored using a primary and multiple secondary arrays sorted by both declination (DEC) and right ascension (RA), respectively. The star location data stored in the star catalog is predetermined by calculating a plurality of desired star locations, associating one of a plurality of stars with each of the plurality of desired star locations based upon a neighborhood association angle to generate an associated plurality of star locations: If an artificial star gap occurs during association, then the neighborhood association angle for reassociation is increased. The controller uses the star catalog to determine which stars to select to provide star measurement residuals for correcting gyroscope bias and spacecraft attitude.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. An apparatus for star catalog equalization to enhance attitude determination comprising:a star tracker for sensing a plurality of positions of a plurality of stars relative to said star tracker, said star tracker having a field of view and generating a plurality of sign

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. An apparatus for star catalog equalization to enhance attitude determination comprising:a star tracker for sensing a plurality of positions of a plurality of stars relative to said star tracker, said star tracker having a field of view and generating a plurality of signals corresponding to said plurality of positions in said field of view;a star catalog comprising a primary array having a plurality of steps with a resolution of a declination step size, each step corresponding to a secondary array containing a plurality of declination angles and right ascension angles corresponding to a plurality of positions said plurality of stars; anda controller coupled to said star catalog and said star tracker, said controller having control logic operative to calculate a plurality of desired star locations, associate one of said plurality of stars with each of said plurality of desired star locations to generate an associated plurality of stars, and create an equalized star catalog based on said associated plurality of stars.