Lost-in-space stellar attitude acquisition using multiple star trackers

摘要

A method, apparatus, article of manufacture for determining the attitude of a spacecraft having at least one star sensor. The method comprises the steps of selecting a first reference star sensor from among the star sensors; designating two stars observed by the first reference star sensor as a primary star pair; identifying a candidate star pair corresponding to the primary star pair, wherein the candidate star pair is selected from a star catalog having a plurality of entries; estimating an inertial orientation of the first star sensor at least in part from the identified candidate star pair; and determining the spacecraft attitude from the estimated inertial orientation of a reference star sensor selected from a group comprising the first star sensor.