Star Tracker Price Influences and Trends

Star trackers, as the core components for satellite attitude determination and control, are becoming increasingly important. The demand for high cost-performance star trackers continues to rise rapidly.

Although star trackers only account for a very small portion of the total satellite cost, their reliability and accuracy directly determine the success or failure of the entire mission.

Key Factors Affecting Star Tracker Price

Attitude Determination Accuracy 

Models achieving sub-arcsecond accuracy (–100 arcsecond range.

Size and Weight 

Ultra-compact models designed specifically for 1U/3U CubeSats (weight

Radiation Tolerance and On-orbit Lifetime 

Products with total ionizing dose (TID) tolerance of 20–100 krad or higher are considerably more expensive. Models with extensive flight heritage (proven on-orbit experience) carry even higher price premiums.

Update Rate and Maximum Angular Rate 

Star trackers that support high refresh rates above 10 Hz and can track large angular rates exceeding 5°/s are priced substantially higher.

Optical Design and Stray Light Suppression 

Models equipped with high-efficiency baffles and advanced stray light suppression algorithms incur significantly higher costs.

Interface and Integration Complexity 

Star trackers that support high-end interfaces such as SpaceWire, CAN, or MIL-STD-1553, or require custom development, are notably more expensive.

Brand and Supply Chain Maturity 

Established brands offer high reliability but come with premium pricing, while emerging manufacturers generally provide much better cost-performance ratios.

Star Tracker Price Trends

Thanks to the economies of scale brought by mega-constellations (such as Starlink-type projects), the average price of entry-level and mid-range star trackers is expected to decrease by 15–25% in the coming years.

Technological advancements — including AI-based star pattern recognition algorithms, back-illuminated CMOS detectors, and new lightweight baffle designs — will significantly reduce costs without compromising accuracy.