A5105351468- Inertial Sensor and Navigation
- Astronomical Observations and Instrumentation
- Planetary Science and Exploration
- Spacecraft Design and Technology
- Space Satellite Systems and Control
- Astro and Planetary Science
- CCD and CMOS Imaging Sensors
- Geophysics and Gravity Measurements
- Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
- Optical measurement and interference techniques
- Robotics and Sensor-Based Localization
- Infrared Target Detection Methodologies
- Advanced Optical Sensing Technologies
- Advanced X-ray and CT Imaging
- Advanced Measurement and Metrology Techniques
- Spacecraft Dynamics and Control
- Geochemistry and Geologic Mapping
- Particle Detector Development and Performance
- Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae
- Calibration and Measurement Techniques
- Adaptive optics and wavefront sensing
- Spacecraft and Cryogenic Technologies
- Astronomy and Astrophysical Research
- Space Exploration and Technology
- Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
2011-2023
California Institute of Technology
1999-2012
La Rochelle Université
2010
Technical University of Denmark
1992-1997
The Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) mission, launched on 2012 June 13, is the first focusing high-energy X-ray telescope in orbit. NuSTAR operates band from 3 to 79 keV, extending sensitivity of far beyond ∼10 keV cutoff achieved by all previous satellites. inherently low background associated with concentrating light enables probe hard sky a more than 100-fold improvement over collimated or coded mask instruments that have operated this bandpass. Using its unprecedented...
An autonomous star tracker is an avionics instrument used to provide the absolute 3-axis attitude of a spacecraft utilizing observations. It consists electronic camera and associated processing electronics. The processor has capability perform identification internal catalog stored in firmware calculate quaternion autonomously. Relevant parameters characteristics are discussed detail.
One problem comes to all spacecrafts using vector information. That is the of determining attitude. This paper describes how area attitude determination instruments has evolved from simple pointing devices into latest technology, which determines by utilizing a CCD camera and powerful microcomputer. The are called star trackers they capable with an accuracy better than 1 arcsecond. concept tracker explained. obtainable calculated, numbers stars be included in catalogue discussed acquisition...
A software system for a star imager online satellite attitude determination is described. The works with single standard commercial CCD camera high aperture lens and an onboard catalog. It capable of both initial coarse without any prior knowledge the orientation high-accuracy based on prediction averaging several identified constellations. In mode image aims at accuracy better than 2 arc sec processing time less few seconds. has been developed Danish Oersted satellite.< <ETX...
The <i>Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR)</i> is a NASA Small Explorer mission that will carry the first focusing hard X-ray (6 - 80 keV) telescope to orbit. <i>NuSTAR</i> offer factor 50 100 sensitivity improvement compared previous collimated or coded mask imagers have operated in this energy band. In addition, provides sub-arcminute imaging with good spectral resolution over 12-arcminute eld of view. After launch, out two-year primary science focuses on four key programs:...
A software system for a star imager on-line satellite attitude determination is described. The works with single standard commercial CCD-camera high aperture lens and an onboard catalogue. It capable of both initial course without any prior knowledge the orientation high-accuracy based on prediction averaging several identified constellations. In accuracy mode aims at better than 2 arc sec processing time less few seconds. developed Danish microsatellite Oersted.< <ETX...
A stellar gyroscope is a star tracker that can operate at high slew rates and update rates. Stellar gyroscopes potentially eliminate the need for conventional inertial gyros onboard spacecraft will eventually revolutionize attitude determination systems on all spacecraft. conceptual design of be presented along with simulations performance. The show it feasible to make relying exclusively gyroscopes. It projected able determine up 420 deg/s absolute 50 deg/s.
Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) based star trackers provide reliable attitude estimation onboard most 3 axis stabilized spacecraft. The spacecraft is calculated on observed positions of stars, which are located and identified in a CCD image the sky. A new photon sensitive imaging array, active pixel sensor (APS), has emerged as potential replacement to CCDs. APS chips utilize existing Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) production facilities, technology several advantages over...
JPL has conducted a study on how to design future miniaturized star trackers. The proposes an ultra-low power (70 mW), mass (42 grams) and very fast (50 Hz) Micro, APS-based Star Tracker (MAST). accuracy of the MAST will be /spl sim/7.5 arcseconds at 50 Hz update rate. is indispensable all low micro/nano spacecraft where concern. consists only two chips-a breakthrough CMOS Active Pixel Sensor (APS) image detector optimized for tracker applications ASIC chip including I/sup 2/C interface,...
Until recently, only first-generation charge coupled device (CCD) spacecraft star trackers have been available. These track a small number of bright stars and are dependent on external processing for acquisition, calculation corrections transformation from CCD referenced to inertial coordinates. Now, powerful microprocessors (>10 million instructions per second (MIPS)) with few Mbytes memory become available in space qualified grades enabled the next step tracker concepts: second-generation...
Sun sensors have been widely used as a part of spacecraft attitude determination subsystems to provide measurement the vector in coordinates. An experimental MEMS based sensor is presented. This prototype sun comprised silicon wafer mask with several hundred small apertures placed on top CCD focal plane array at distance 750 /spl mu/m. image formed when illuminates this setup. angles can be derived by analyzing image. The data presented indicates that achieve accuracies order few arcminutes...
A prototype micro Sun sensor has been developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology. It consists a thin piece silicon coated with layer chrome and gold hundreds small pinholes, placed on top an Active Pixel Sensor (APS) image detector distance 900 microns. Images are formed APS when illuminates mask. angles derived by determining precise location images detector-just like sundial. The packaged sun mass 11 grams, volume 4.2 cm/sup 3/ power consumption 30 mW....
The Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) is a NASA Small Explorer mission that will make the first sensitive images of sky in high energy X-ray band (6 -80 keV).The NuSTAR observatory consists two coaligned grazing incidence hard telescopes with ~10 meter focal length, achieved by on-orbit extension deployable mast.A principal science objective to locate previously unknown high-energy sources an accuracy 10 arcseconds (3-sigma), sufficient uniquely identify counterparts at other...
This paper describes a distance-measuring sensor that utilizes image-based triangulation. The angle toward laser spot changes with distance and is converted into the help of calibration procedure. removes background illumination linear polarizer, bandpass filter, knowledge line on focal plane imaged moves along. charge-coupled device detector an eye safe laser. operates up to 10 m. accuracy 1.5 mm at 1 m distance, decreasing 8 4 distance. able track targets velocities faster than 3.6 m/s...
In this paper we investigate various strategies for reducing navigation errors a future Venus balloon mission equipped with low-mass MEMS IMU (e.g. STIM300), and focus on two of these mitigation in detail. First, propose to mechanically rotate the while collecting data thereby averaging out bias contributions increasing accuracy. To end, experimentally provide proof-of-concept by rotating STIM300 about single-axis show that performance idealized scenario is substantially improved. Second,...
The most accurate instrument for spacecraft attitude determination is a star tracker. Generally, these are CCD- based instruments. Until recently, only first-generation units were available. However, designs limited to outputting positions of few stars in sensor- referenced coordinates and require extensive external processing. Fortunately, advancing technology has enabled the development new second-generation class trackers. These fully autonomous, solve lost-in-space problem, have large...
NASA will send two identical scientific rovers to different locations on Mars in 2003. Two Panorama Cameras (Pancams) are included the nine cameras each rover. One function of these Pancams is image Sun order determine its vector relative The determined by centroiding solar image. This used, combination with information from an inclinometer, a clock, and ephemeris data, north, point high gain antenna at Earth provide reference for inertial measurement unit that used rover navigation....
A solar compass chip (SCC) is a photosensitive with MEMS-based optics (pinhole aperture array) integrated on the itself. The enables to image sun. Image processing of sun performed externally SCC (typically processor connected SCC). observed for period time, say half an hour, and angles are calculated. During that will slew across sky due sidereal rate. circle surface sphere can be fitted arc traverses. center this rotation axis Earth. Besides performing function compass, combined clock...
The NASA Mars Exploration Rover mission will launch two scientific spacecraft to in 2003. primary goal of the is obtain knowledge ancient water and climate on red planet. Each carry one rover with a mass approximately 150 kg design lifetime about 90 days surface Mars. rovers are intended travel up 100 meters per day. payloads include stereo pair Panoramic cameras Microscopic Imager. also support engineering functions high gain antenna pointing navigation by solar imaging. have six additional...
A flight qualified laser radar called LAMP (LAser MaPper) is under development at JPL. a guidance and control sensor that can form 3 dimensional images of its field regard. This paper describes the detailed design sensor.
At JPL, a <5 kg free-flying micro-inspector spacecraft is being designed for host-vehicle inspection. The includes hazard avoidance sensor to navigate relative the vehicle inspected. Structured light was selected because of its low mass and cost. method remote sensing 3-dimensional structure proximity utilizing laser, grating, single regular APS camera. laser beam split into 400 different beams by grating form spaced grid that are projected field view an source camera separated forming base...