You have requested a machine translation of selected content from our databases. This functionality is provided solely for your convenience and is in no way intended to replace human translation. Neither SPIE nor the owners and publishers of the content make, and they explicitly disclaim, any express or implied representations or warranties of any kind, including, without limitation, representations and warranties as to the functionality of the translation feature or the accuracy or completeness of the translations.
Translations are not retained in our system. Your use of this feature and the translations is subject to all use restrictions contained in the Terms and Conditions of Use of the SPIE website.
25 August 2005Optical simulator and testbed for spacecraft star tracker development
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL) is currently developing a prototype star scanner design incorporating a variation on the V-slit design concept, called the N-slit, which is intended for deployment on future NASA spacecraft missions, such as the Radiation Belt Storm Probe (RBSP). In order to effectively test and evaluate alternative designs, including optics, sensors, and tracking algorithms, we have developed a laboratory testbed that simulates celestial objects, including stars down to a specified magnitude. We do this by creating a light-hermetic dome-shaped projection environment using light emitting diodes of specified brightness coupled to the dome exterior via fiber-optic patch cords, which can be adjusted by current bias and selected for color, if necessary, to simulate stars over a particular range of magnitudes required for the desired system accuracy. We also simulate the spacecraft platform spin dynamics using a two-axis servo-actuated mount for the star tracker test unit within the dome. This same actuator or a similar assembly can then be transitioned to actual field tests for sensor down-select and full functionality demonstrations prior to follow-on spacecraft-qualified design. We will describe the design, construction, calibration, and operation of this simulator and preliminary results of star scanner sensor evaluation using a photomultiplier-based N-slit sensor.
The alert did not successfully save. Please try again later.
B. G. Boone, J. R. Bruzzi, W. F. Dellinger, B. E. Kluga, K. M. Strobehn, "Optical simulator and testbed for spacecraft star tracker development," Proc. SPIE 5867, Optical Modeling and Performance Predictions II, 586711 (25 August 2005); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.619133