Development of Ultra-Light 2-Axes Sun Sensor for Small Satellite

Abstract

This paper addresses development of the ultra-light analog sun sensors for small satellite applications. The sun sensor is suitable for attitude determination for small satellite because of its small, light, low-cost, and low power consumption characteristics. The sun sensor is designed, manufactured and characteristic-tested with the target requirements of ±60° FOV (Field of View) and pointing accuracy of ±2°. Since the sun sensor has nonlinear characteristics between output measurement voltage and incident angle of sunlight, a higher order calibration equation is required for error correction. The error was calculated by using a polynomial calibration equation that was computed by the least square method obtained from the measured voltages vs. angles characteristics. Finally, the accuracies of 1-axis and 2-axes sun sensors, which consist of 2 detectors, are compared.

Keywords

• ultra-light
• field of view
• analog sun sensor
• micro/nano satellite