Dual-Purpose Star Tracker and Space Debris Detector: Miniature Instrument for Small Satellites
This paper presents the conception, design and real miniature instrument implementation of a dual-purpose sensor for small satellites that can act as a star tracker and space debris detector. In the previous research work, the authors conceived, designed and implemented a breadboard consisting of a computer laptop, a camera interface and camera controller, an image sensor, an optics system, a temperature sensor and a temperature controller. It showed that the instrument was feasible. In this paper, a new real star tracker miniature instrument is designed, physically realized and tested. The implementation follows a New Space approach; it is made with Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) components with space heritage. The instrument’s development, implementation and testing are presented.
Authors
- Hugo Onderwater
- Beltran N. Arribas
- Joel Filho (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4534-9479)
- João P. Castanheira (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4117-3621)
- Paulo Gordo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6861-8446)
- Rui Melício (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1081-2729)
- Rui Policarpo Duarte (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7060-4745)
- André Silva (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4901-7140)
- João M. M. Maia
Institutions
- Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores Investigação e Desenvolvimento (PT)
- University of Lisbon (PT)
- University of Beira Interior (PT)
- Universidade Politécnica de Lisboa (PT)
- LIP - Laboratory of Instrumentation and Experimental Particle Physics (PT)
- Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences (PT)
- University of Coimbra (PT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Sensor and Actuator Networks
- Published
- 2025-07-16
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/jsan14040075
- Primary Topic
- Space Satellite Systems and Control
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00