Method for the automatic correction of alignment errors in star tracker systems

10:

• The method as recited in claim 9 wherein the reference tracker is arranged so as to be stable with respect to the at least one additional star tracker.

11:

• The method as recited in claim 9 further comprising depicting the reference information and the orientation information of the at least one additional star tracker in a master coordinate system, the error signal being ascertained in the master coordinate system and transferred back to the coordinate system of the at least one additional star tracker.

12:

• The method as recited in claim 9 wherein, if the error signal of the at least one additional star tracker is present, a mechanical correction of the at least one additional star tracker that is erroneous is carried out.

13:

• The method as recited in claim 9 wherein, if the error signal of the at least one additional star tracker is present, a correction of the orientation information of the at least one additional star tracker is carried out on a processing level of star vectors.

14:

• The method as recited in claim 9 wherein, if the error signal of the at least one additional star tracker is present, a correction of the orientation information at least one additional star tracker is carried out on a level of preprocessed star vectors.

15:

• The method as recited in claim 9 wherein, if the error signal of the at least one additional star tracker is present, a correction of the orientation information of the at least one additional star tracker is carried out on a level of the Euler angle and/or on a level of the quaternions.

16:

• The method as recited in claim 9 wherein a correction of the alignment on the basis of the ascertained error signals continues to be carried out until the value has fallen below a prescribed error deviation of the orientation information between the reference tracker and the at least one additional star tracker.

17:

• The method as recited in claim 9 wherein, in the case of at least two of the star trackers being erroneous, a correction quantity obtained from a comparison of a given one of the star trackers to the reference tracker is used for the appertaining additional star tracker for purposes of its additional correction.