KITSAT-1/2 ANALOG SUN SENSORS-IN-ORBIT RESULTS

Abstract

This paper briefly describes the KITSAT-1 and KITSAT-2 spacecrafts and presents the functions, calibration procedures and in-orbit results of the KITSAT-2 analog sun sensors have been flown as an experimental payload for the future mission. We have two constraints in their design: small size and very low power consumption due to the tight mass and power budget of the spacecraft. Two one-dimensional analog sun sensors are mounted on the top facet of the KITSAT-2 spacecraft. Each has ±60 degrees of view angle and they cover 210 degree field of view in total as the 30 degree view angles are overlapped. Only the relative sun angle around the Z-axis (yaw-axis) and the spin rate of the spacecraft can be achieved as the one dimensional sun sensors are used and they are aligned with the Z-axis. The calibration formulae are obtained using the fifth order line fitting algorithm for each sun sensor on the ground and they are applied to the obtained in-orbit data. ASS-1 with silicon solar cells has maximum error of 1.5 degree and ASS-2 with silicon photocells manufactured at KAIST has maximum error of 0.5 degree except near 0 degree of sun ray incident angle where random reflection of incident sun ray is maximum in orbit. The results are presented in chapter 4. The performance of each sun sensor and the possible mounting errors are stated in chapter 5.