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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 163 records · Page 9
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1971

Planet geometric center tracker

Tracker has angular accuracy on order of one arc-second. Device locates planet centers even when they appear gibbous or crescent. Automatic operation without requirement for planet size input is achieved by incorporating planet radius seeking circuit.

Fleenor, E. G.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Digital canopus tracker digital electronics

Circuitry has been developed for digital control of the Canopus tracker. A feasibility and demonstration breadboard has been constructed using microelectronic integrated circuits. The breadboard contains the digital circuits necessary for closed-digital logic necessary for star acquisition, particle rejection, programmable gate selection, cone angle selection, and routing of the digital roll error signal.

Crawford, W. E.↗
NASA NTRS1973

An investigation and conceptual design of a holographic starfield and landmark tracker

The analysis, experiments, and design effort of this study have supported the feasibility of the basic holographic tracker concept. Image intensifiers and photoplastic recording materials were examined, along with a Polaroid rapid process silver halide material. Two reference beam, coherent optical matched filter technique was used for multiplexing spatial frequency filters for starfields. A 1 watt HeNe laser and an electro-optical readout are also considered.

Welch, J. D.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Optical filtering for star trackers

The optimization of optical filtering was investigated for tracking faint stars, down to the fifth magnitude. The effective wavelength and bandwidth for tracking pre-selected guide stars are discussed along with the results of an all-electronic tracker with a star tracking photomultiplier, which was tested with a simulated second magnitude star. Tables which give the sum of zodiacal light and galactic background light over the entire sky for intervals of five degrees in declination, and twenty minutes in right ascension are included.

Wilson, R. E.↗
NASA NTRS1972

A high-accuracy digital star tracker for advanced planetary missions.

The digital star tracker represents a novel departure from previous analog designs in terms of circuit implementation and operational capabilities. As an element of an all-digital spacecraft control system, it combines proven low-level analog signal processing with digital error control and command functions. Additional capabilities that are obtainable with the digital circuitry include programmable intensity threshold gates, commanded electronic pointing control, and an acquisition/control algorithm which minimizes the effects of straylight disturbances. The capabilities inherent in the implementation have been successfully demonstrated in a laboratory model of the instrument.

Salomon, P. M.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Apollo Telescope Mount (ATM) gimballed star tracker

Design and development of six gimballed star trackers for Skylab's Apollo Telescope Mount, which performed successfully on all three manned Skylab missions and accumulated a total usage time of approximately 3,500 hours, is described in terms of configurations, materials and construction, qualification testing, performance, and reliability characteristics. A brief program history and design changes incorporated during the life of the program are also discussed. Extensive drawings, block diagrams, and photographs are provided.

Lana, J. D.↗
NASA NTRS1973

A high-accuracy digital star tracker for advanced planetary missions

The digital star tracker represents a novel departure from previous analog designs in terms of circuit implementation and operational capabilities. As an element of an all-digital spacecraft control system, it combines proven low-level analog signal processing with digital error control and command functions. Additional capabilities that are obtainable with the digital circuitry include programmable intensity threshold gates, commanded electronic pointing control, and an acquisition/control algorithm which minimizes the effects of straylight disturbances. The capabilities inherent in the implementation have been successfully demonstrated in a laboratory model of the instrument.

Salomon, P. M.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Analysis for Mar Vel Black and acetylene soot low reflectivity surfaces for star tracker sunshade applications

Mar Vel Black is a revolutionary new extremely low reflectivity anodized coating developed by Martin Marietta of Denver. It is of great interest in optics in general, and in star trackers specifically because it can reduce extraneous light reflections. A sample of Mar Vel Black was evaluated. Mar Vel Black looks much like a super black surface with many small peaks and very steep sides so that any light incident upon the surface will tend to reflect many times before exiting that surface. Even a high reflectivity surface would thus appear to have a very low reflectivity under such conditions. Conversely, acetylene soot does not have the magnified surface appearance of a super black surface. Its performance is, however, predictable from the surface structure, considering the known configuration of virtually pure carbon.

Yung, E.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Star tracker constraint violations digital capability description and analysis results. Mission planning, mission analysis, and software formulation

Results of star tracker constraint violation analyses performed with the digital computer program Shuttle Attitude and Pointing Time Line Processor (SAPT) are presented. Results are typical of those utilized to provide the information required to update Baseline Reference Mission Attitude and Pointing Time Lines. Descriptions of SAPT modifications implemented to perform these analyses are also presented.

Poston, P. L.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Star tracker axis-to-sunlit earth horizon angle constraint evaluations for rendezvous operations

The results are presented of a study initiated to evaluate the star tracker axis-to-sunlit earth horizon angle constraint with respect to limitations imposed on the passive target rendezvous capability. The data presented include considerations for dispersions and sensor pointing capabilities and generalizations with respect to the uncertainties associated with the angle constraint available in practice.

Hutchison, W. L.↗
NASA NTRS1976

A precision star tracker utilizing advanced techniques and materials

An image dissector star tracker has been developed which operates in the photon counting mode making it possible to utilize all digital electronics. A unique pulse processing circuit allows bright stars to be tracked as well as dim stars. Thermal mechanical stability has been greatly enhanced by fabricating a housing with graphite/epoxy composite material with a linear coefficient of thermal expansion near zero. Test results indicate the +10 Mv stars can be acquired and tracked, while position variation with star intensity is less than 2 arc seconds from 2.5 Mv to +10 Mv. The noise equivalent angle for a +8 Mv star is 3 arc seconds. Polynominal correction for remaining cross-coupling and nonlinearity reduced error over total 1 x 1 deg field to 1.5 arc seconds.

Gates, R. F.↗