Paper
20 December 2013 Design and application of star map simulation system for star sensors
Author Affiliations +
Proceedings Volume 9044, 2013 International Conference on Optical Instruments and Technology: Optical Sensors and Applications; 90440R (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2035465
Event: International Conference on Optical Instruments and Technology (OIT2013), 2013, Beijing, China
Abstract
Modern star sensors are powerful to measure attitude automatically which assure a perfect performance of spacecrafts. They achieve very accurate attitudes by applying algorithms to process star maps obtained by the star camera mounted on them. Therefore, star maps play an important role in designing star cameras and developing procession algorithms. Furthermore, star maps supply significant supports to exam the performance of star sensors completely before their launch. However, it is not always convenient to supply abundant star maps by taking pictures of the sky. Thus, star map simulation with the aid of computer attracts a lot of interests by virtue of its low price and good convenience. A method to simulate star maps by programming and extending the function of the optical design program ZEMAX is proposed. The star map simulation system is established. Firstly, based on analyzing the working procedures of star sensors to measure attitudes and the basic method to design optical system by ZEMAX, the principle of simulating star sensor imaging is given out in detail. The theory about adding false stars and noises, and outputting maps is discussed and the corresponding approaches are proposed. Then, by external programming, the star map simulation program is designed and produced. Its user interference and operation are introduced. Applications of star map simulation method in evaluating optical system, star image extraction algorithm and star identification algorithm, and calibrating system errors are presented completely. It was proved that the proposed simulation method provides magnificent supports to the study on star sensors, and improves the performance of star sensors efficiently.
© (2013) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Feng Wu Sr., Weimin Shen, Xifang Zhu, Yuheng Chen Sr., and Qinquan Xu "Design and application of star map simulation system for star sensors", Proc. SPIE 9044, 2013 International Conference on Optical Instruments and Technology: Optical Sensors and Applications, 90440R (20 December 2013); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2035465
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KEYWORDS
Stars

Star sensors

Zemax

Optical design

Monte Carlo methods

Computer simulations

Algorithm development

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