Sovremennye problemy distantsionnogo zondirovaniya Zemli iz kosmosa, 2026, V. 23, No. 5, pp. 185-194
The internal structure of a stellar orientation device adapted to perform measurements at high angular velocities
B.A. Yumatov 1 , I.A. Metelkov 1 , A.V. Kononenko 1 , V.K. Sudarikova 1 1 Space Research Institute RAS, Moscow, Russia
Accepted: 07.08.2026
DOI: 10.21046/2070-7401-2026-23-5-185-194
The expansion of application areas for star trackers often imposes additional requirements on key performance characteristics; meeting these requirements is essential for successfully accomplishing the primary mission — determining spacecraft orientation. Operating star trackers on an upper stage creates one such requirement: the need to support a wide range of angular rates within which the device can determine orientation with high probability. Standard star tracker software is designed to perform initial orientation acquisition at angular rates not exceeding 2–2.5°/s. The probability of successfully completing this task — even with the benefit of a priori information — remains within acceptable limits only at rates up to 5°/s. Consequently, the device’s algorithms require upgrading to ensure functionality at high angular rates. The article examines the algorithm and operational sequence of a star tracker adapted to meet these requirements. Finally, the paper presents results from testing the device’s mathematical model and an experimental prototype, along with a comparative analysis against other star trackers.
Keywords: star tracker, high angular velocity, launch unit, angular orientation parameters
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