Microsystem technology toughens up sun sensors for extreme environments

Johan Leijtens; Kees de Boom

doi:10.1117/12.674792

29 August 2006 Microsystem technology toughens up sun sensors for extreme environments

Johan Leijtens, Kees de Boom

Proceedings Volume 6308, Photonics for Space Environments XI; 63080D (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.674792
Event: SPIE Optics + Photonics, 2006, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

With the advent of interplanetary missions, requirements posed on satellite instrumentation are becoming increasingly difficult to meet. The main problems are associated with the very limited mass and volume budgets in combination with extreme temperatures and radiation environment. All of the new requirements will have to be met without loosing the prime instrument or sensor performance. This requires a fundamentally different approach. Through the use of Microsystems engineering in combination with clever design both volume and mass can be decreased by more than an order of magnitude while drastically increasing ruggedness. In the end this approach may lead to a paradigm shift in the sense that very capable and rugged sensors will be procure also for more benign missions due to the cost advantages of using MST. The paper will focus on application of MST technologies for sunsensors generally used in the Attitude and orbit control subsystem of satellites and the possible gains (both technological and application wise).

Citation Download Citation

Johan Leijtens and Kees de Boom "Microsystem technology toughens up sun sensors for extreme environments", Proc. SPIE 6308, Photonics for Space Environments XI, 63080D (29 August 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.674792

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