Determination of spacecraft orientation by the temperature field analysis of its outer surface
N.P. Semena
Space Research Institute RAS, Moscow, Russia, semena@hea.iki.rssi.ru
Keywords: spacecraft orientation, spacecraft thermal mode, thermodynamic system of orientation
Pages: 135-147
Abstract
It was demonstrated that by analysing temperature field of the outer surface of the spacecraft it is possible to determine its orientation - directions to the principal heat sources within the Solar system, including the Sun and the nearest planets. For the spacecraft with the simplest configuration, this problem can be solved analytically. In the real spacecraft there shall be simple heat-sensitive elements with weak thermal bond with the spacecraft and high sensitivity to the changing outer thermal conditions. The experiment has proved that the accuracy of orientation determination with the use of such temperature measurement reaches 5 ang. min at the rotation velocity of the spacecraft up to 30 ang. deg /min.
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