Direct sun imaging star tracker
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsThomas George Chrien, Thomas Daniel Salzman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Described are systems and methods for direct sun imaging by a star tracker. Disclosed in a certain example is a direct sun imaging star tracker that includes an imaging sensor and a baffle. The baffle includes a star port, a sun port, and a beam splitter. The star port is configured to image first viewing environment while the sun port is configured to image a second viewing environment that includes the sun. The beam splitter is configured to combine electromagnetic radiation from the star port and the sun port into a combined image. In various examples, the systems and techniques described herein allow a star tracker to simultaneously view both the sun and the stars.
Claims20
A spacecraft, comprising:
- a spacecraft structure;
- and
- a star tracker, coupled to the spacecraft structure and comprising:
- an imaging sensor, configured to receive electromagnetic radiation via a combined viewpath;
- and
- a baffle, disposed proximate the imaging sensor and comprising:
- a star port, configured to receive first electromagnetic radiation associated with a first viewing environment via a first path;
- a sun port, disposed at between a 30-60 degree angle to the first path, configured to receive second electromagnetic radiation associated with a second viewing environment via a second path and configured to attenuate a magnitude of the second electromagnetic radiation;
- and
- a lens disposed within the sun port configured to act as a beam splitter, configured to receive the first electromagnetic radiation of the first path and the second electromagnetic radiation of the second path and configured to combine the first electromagnetic radiation and the second electromagnetic radiation into the combined viewpath.
A star tracker, comprising:
- an imaging sensor, configured to receive electromagnetic radiation via a combined viewpath;
- and
- a baffle, disposed proximate the imaging sensor and comprising:
- a star port, configured to receive first electromagnetic radiation associated with a first viewing environment via a first path;
- a sun port, disposed at between a 30-60 degree angle to the first path, configured to receive second electromagnetic radiation associated with a second viewing environment via a second path and configured to attenuate a magnitude of the second electromagnetic radiation;
- and
- a lens disposed within the sun port configured to act as a beam splitter, configured to receive the first electromagnetic radiation of the first path and the second electromagnetic radiation of the second path and configured to combine the first electromagnetic radiation and the second electromagnetic radiation into the combined viewpath.
A method comprising:
- positioning a star tracker such that a second viewing environment containing a sun is within view of a sun port of the star tracker and a first viewing environment different from the second viewing environment is within view of a star port of the star tracker, wherein the sun port is configured to attenuate a magnitude of the view of the second viewing environment;
- and
- imaging the first viewing environment and the second viewing environment with an imaging sensor of the star tracker,
- wherein the star port is configured to receive first electromagnetic radiation associated with the first viewing environment via a first path, and
- wherein the sun port is disposed at between a 30-60 degree angle to the first path, and is configured to receive second electromagnetic radiation associated with the second viewing environment via a second path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.