Satellite module for attitude determination

A satellite module for attitude determination, comprising:

• a polyhedral containment body configured to be mounted on a satellite and comprising at least one data acquisition board and a connection interface for allowing the at least one data acquisition board to be in signal communication and electrical communication with the satellite;
• at least one first-type sensor selected from a sun sensor, an earth sensor, a stellar sensor, and a horizon sensor, in communication with the data acquisition board;
• at least one second-type sensor, different from the at least one first type sensor, selected from a sun sensor, an earth sensor, a stellar sensor, and a horizon sensor, and in communication with the data acquisition board;
• at least one third-type sensor, different from the at least one first-type sensor and the at least one second-type sensor, selected from a sun sensor, an earth sensor, and a horizon sensor;
• wherein the connection interface is mounted on a first face of the polyhedral containment body, the at least one first-type sensor is mounted on a second face of the polyhedral containment body, the at least one second-type sensor is mounted on a third face of the polyhedral containment body, and the at least one third-type sensor is mounted on a fourth face of the polyhedral containment body;
• and
• wherein the first-type sensor, the second-type sensor, and the third-type sensor are mounted externally on the polyhedral containment body so as to face an environment outside the polyhedral containment body.

A satellite module for attitude determination comprising:

• a polyhedral containment body comprising a top face, a front face perpendicular to the top face, a lateral face perpendicular to the front face and the top face, and a plurality of connecting faces extending between the top face and the front face consecutive to each other, each connecting face of said plurality of connecting faces forming an angle between about 10 degrees and about 25 degrees with an adjacent connecting face of said plurality of connecting faces;
• a plurality of first-type sensors, each selected from a sun sensor, an earth sensor, a stellar sensor, and a horizon sensor, at least one first-type sensor of said plurality of first-type sensors being mounted directly on each connecting face so as to have redundant readings of a quantity to which the plurality of first-type sensors are sensitive;
• and
• at least one second-type sensor different from the plurality of first type sensors, said at least one second-type sensor being selected from a sun sensor, an earth sensor, a stellar sensor, and a horizon sensor, the at least one second-type sensor being mounted directly on the lateral face.