Spacecraft acquisition of orientation by scan of earth sensor fi

Details Spacecraft acquisition of orientation by scan of earth sensor fi Spacecraft acquisition of orientation by scan of earth sensor fi

1995-03-06

1997-01-28

Barefoot, Galen L.

Aeronautics and astronautics

Spacecraft

Attitude control

244165, 244171, B64G 124

Patent

active

055971423

ABSTRACT:
A spacecraft orientation procedure, in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, is practiced with a sun sensor to bring the x (roll) axis of the spacecraft parallel to a ray of the sun, and with a gyro sensor and an earth sensor of the spacecraft in conjunction with one instruction provided either autonomously or by a ground tracking station regarding an orientation of a spacecraft reference plane to enable locating the earth by the earth sensor. Furthermore, in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, the orientation is established without aid from the ground tracking station by use of at least one telemetry and command antenna having a continuous field of view, as measured in one plane, which is greater than a semicircle. In the second embodiment, the orientation procedure provides for rotation of the spacecraft about the x axis for a scanning of the antenna to intercept command signals broadcast from the earth, thereby to locate the earth in a first reference plane. Rotation about the y (pitch) axis enables measurement of command signal strength for location of the earth in a second reference plane perpendicular to the first reference plane. Gyrocompassing establishes yaw in both embodiments of the invention.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4776540 (1988-10-01), Westland
patent: 5080307 (1992-01-01), Smay et al.
patent: 5132910 (1992-07-01), Scheif et al.

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