Multi-functional star tracker — future perspectives

Abstract

This paper focuses on the idea of a multi-functional wide-field star tracker (WFST) and provides a description of the current state-of-the-art in this field. The idea comes from a proposal handed in to ESA at the beginning of 2011. Star trackers (STs) usually have more than one object-lens with a small Field-of-View. They provide very precise information about the attitude in space according to consecutive evaluation of star positions. Our idea of WFST will combine the functions of several instruments, e.g. ST, a horizon sensor, and an all-sky photometry camera. WFST will use a fish-eye lens. There is no comparable product on the present-day market. Nowadays, spacecraft have to carry several instruments for these applications. This increases the weight of the instrumentation and reduces the weight available for the payload.

Keywords

• star tracker
• horizon sensor
• all-sky camera
• photometry
• astrometry
• space variant image processing.