Star sensor with CCD-array, method of detection and application to reposition a spacecraft.

摘要

For image analysis of weakly luminous objects in rapid motion, the sensor (1) receives assistance data coming from a central inertial unit (18). It furthermore includes a digital memory section (17) for a window which contains the image of the luminous object. The sub-images contained in P successively reset windows on the CCD array (3) are progressively summed and stored in a window digital memory section (17). The sensor (1) is also provided with computation means (12) for determining the position of the image of the luminous object on the array (3) by calculating the centres of gravity and vector addition of these centres of gravity. Application to repositioning (resetting) an artificial satellite. <IMAGE>