Star tracker are high-precision optical sensor systems. Engineers mainly use them for satellites and spacecraft. They sometimes apply them to aircraft or ground telescopes. Their core function is attitude determination. This means they precisely calculate the spacecraft’s orientation in three-dimensional space.
Star trackers capture images of the star field in the spacecraft’s view. Then, they compare these images with a pre-loaded star catalog. This catalog is a database. It contains known positions, brightness, and patterns of stars. Therefore, star trackers compute the satellite’s exact attitude.
What Do Star Tracker Track in Practical Applications?
Engineers widely apply star tracker to various missions. These range from low Earth orbit (LEO) communication satellites to interplanetary probes. Here are specific scenarios:
Primary Tracking Objects:
– Cataloged bright stars: For example, Sirius, Vega, and Polaris serve as fixed reference stars.
– Star field patterns: Multiple stars form unique “fingerprints” through their relative positions.
Interference Sources to Avoid:
– Sun, Moon, and Earth albedo → Engineers use baffles to shield them.
– Space debris and satellite reflections → Algorithms filter non-stellar light sources.
Star trackers often work with inertial measurement units (IMUs) and horizon sensors:
– IMUs measure angular velocity (short-term high-frequency).
– Star trackers provide an absolute attitude reference. Thus, they correct long-term drift.
Send us a message,we will answer your email shortly!
TY-Space Technology (Beijing) Ltd. is professional focusing on advanced attitude optical sensors, especially Star Trackers for space industry.
