A NEW METHOD TO FIND THE SOLAR DIRECTION FROM HORIZON OBSERVATIONS

Authors
MANASSEN A SHAVIV G
Citation
A. Manassen et G. Shaviv, A NEW METHOD TO FIND THE SOLAR DIRECTION FROM HORIZON OBSERVATIONS, Acta astronautica, 38(9), 1996, pp. 681-688
Citations number
3
Categorie Soggetti
Aerospace Engineering & Tecnology
Journal title
Acta astronautica → ACNP
ISSN journal
00945765
Volume
38
Issue
9
Year of publication
1996
Pages
681 - 688
Database
ISI
SICI code
0094-5765(1996)38:9<681:ANMTFT>2.0.ZU;2-4
Abstract
A method to find the direction of the Sun from observations of the hor izon is described. The method is based on analysis of the polarization of the light and can be used even when the satellite is in the shade of the Earth. The classical horizon sensors can easily be extended to include measurements of the light polarization, and in this way provid e the direction of the Sun and complete attitude control parameters fo r satellites. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd