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A first pair of antennas are mounted on a satellite spaced along a first axis and a second pair of antennas are spaced along a second axis for receiving signals from another satellite in orbit with the satellite, the first and second axes being orthogonal to a yaw axis that points toward the centroi

A first pair of antennas are mounted on a satellite spaced along a first axis and a second pair of antennas are spaced along a second axis for receiving signals from another satellite in orbit with the satellite, the first and second axes being orthogonal to a yaw axis that points toward the centroid of the celestial body about which the satellite orbits. Each pair of antennas are used to derive phase angle and signal strength differences, and these differences are used for deducing a yaw orientation of the satellite about the yaw axis.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method for determining orientation of a first satellite orbiting a celestial body, comprising:using at least one optical sensor mounted on the first satellite to map a view of the celestial body onto at least one focal plane array, and determining orientations of the first satellite about pitch

1. A method for determining orientation of a first satellite orbiting a celestial body, comprising:using at least one optical sensor mounted on the first satellite to map a view of the celestial body onto at least one focal plane array, and determining orientations of the first satellite about pitch and roll axes thereof based on a location of a centroid of the celestial body relative to a center of the at least one focal plane array; and determining an orientation of the first satellite about a yaw axis thereof that points generally toward the celestial body's centroid by: receiving a signal from a second satellite, the signal being received at the first satellite by each of a first pair of antennas that are spaced apart along a first direction having a component parallel to one of the pitch and roll axes and by each of a second pair of antennas that are spaced apart along a second direction having a component parallel to the other of the pitch and roll axes; and determining the orientation of the first satellite about the yaw axis based on a first difference signal derived by comparing received signals of the antennas of the first pair and based on a second difference signal derived by comparing received signals of the antennas of the second pair.