Precision optical pointing and tracking from spacecraft with vibrational noise

Abstract

The results of an investigation of the performance of three basic precision pointing and tracking control subsystems considered for application to satellite to satellite optical communication missions are discussed. The three-control subsystems include: (1) gyro-stabilized, (2) mass-stabilized and (3) complementary filter. The sources of error included in the analysis included: (1) sensor noise from the optical detector, (2) host satellite baseframe vibrational noise and (3) frictional and bearing noise. The measured vibrational and disturbance data from the LANDSAT satellite was used to generate the power spectral density parameter needed to model the baseframe noise environments of the two satellites used for the evaluation. The results of the study indicate that the 1 microradian rms pointing and tracking accuracy may be achieved with either the gyro-stabilized or the complementary filter approach.