Atttiude Estimation for Small, Agile Spacecraft

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Very small spacecraft are increasingly seen as a valid platform for cost-effective and responsive space missions. Once considered suitable only for technology demonstrations cubesat and nanosatellite class spacecraft now have significant flight heritage in demanding environments. As the capabilities of these spacecraft expand, designers require better performance from the satellites' subsystems. This push towards improved performance is particularly acute in the area of spacecraft attitude estimation.***This proposal examines the challenges encountered in designing sensors and integrated attitude estimation systems for very small spacecraft. Not only do these missions demand precise knowledge of spacecraft orientation but many emerging applications for Earth-Observation (EO) satellite servicing, and missions beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO) require that this attitude knowledge be available when the satellite is undergoing rapid motion. Accommodating these technical and operational challenges requires design approaches significantly different than what is encountered in traditional satellite engineering. The proposed research combines design trade-studies with detailed analysis of single-sensor and multi-sensor estimation systems. ***The proposed program of research relies on a number of complementary methodologies. High-level simulations are used to conduct system-level trade studies and design optimization. More detailed sensor processing and estimation techniques are first evaluated analytically and then validated with detailed simulations of sensor operation using Matlab and Zemax. New processing algorithms can be evaluated and tested in laboratory experiments on a variety of engineering-model star trackers and LIDAR systems. This comprehensive approach to development and validation helps mature innovations to the point that they are suitable for follow-on projects in conjunction with industry partners.***We expect that this research will lead to improvements in the practice of high-performance attitude estimation for agile cubesats and nanosatellites. These advances will benefit mission designers (better trade studies and design tools), attitude determination and control engineers (tailored estimation and signal processing algorithms), and avionics developers (motion compensation and other sensor-specific innovations).********