The author surveys algorithms used in star identification, commonly used in star trackers to determine the attitude of a spacecraft. Star trackers are a staple of attitude determination systems for most types of satellites. The paper covers: (a) lost-in-space algorithms (when no a priori attitude information is available), (b) recursive algorithms (when some a priori attitude information is ava...

This paper presents a study of star tracker attitude estimation algorithms and implementation on an indoor ground-based Three Axis Spacecraft Simulator (TASS). Angle, Planar Triangle, and Spherical Triangle algorithms are studied for star pattern recognition. Least squares, QUEST and TRIAD algorithms are studied for attitude determination. A star field image is suspended above TASS. The indoor ...

Star trackers provide spacecraft with the most precise estimate of their orientation,or attitude, with respect to a fixed celestial coordinate system. The star tracker camera views a patch of the celestial sphere and attempts to recognize the stars contained within. Then from the known star positions it will calculate the attitude. A number of pattern recognition methods, each with various stre...

Additive Multi-rate Delayed Extended Kalman Filter Attitude Estimation Fusing Gyroscope and Star Tracker Sensors

Reducing mass andpower demands from engineering and science image sensors, while improving system capability, remains a driving force in the development of Sciencecraft components. The Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) is developing advanced concepts for future spacecraft celestial trackers by incorporating active pixel sensor (APS) array technology into star and feature tracker designs. We describe fun...