The optical line-of-sight (LOS) stabilization system on a two body platform space platform must be stabilized to sub-microradian levels in the presence of base disturbances to obtain blur free images. In addition, for some applications, the LOS system must assist the platform to rapidly communicate between satellites. An example of a two body spacecraft has a telescope (or beam expander) as the fore body and a sensor suite which can include an active tracking system on the aft body. An isolation system between the two bodies will keep the disturbances generated in each from effecting the other. Such a system could be used for satellite communications, weather tracking systems etc. The need for accurate conirol of angular motion is accomplished with stabilization and isolation platforms and active control of structures and optics. One method includes a concept to blend inertial measuring sensors (IMS) that operate in different frequency ranges to produce an IMS sensor system that can measure base disturbances form DC to over 1000 Hz with minimum distortion. This information is then used to point the LOS at a target with minimumjitter effects. This paper will discuss the second set of experimental results from this method to isolate the LOS from the base motion of a space platform over a wide frequency range. The first set of results can be found in Reference 1. The first set of tests dealt mainly with the aspects of blending sensors that operate in different frequencies together. The second set of results to be reported in this paper will include pointing stability and retargeting results. These experimental results were obtained from implementing this method on a two body spacecraft simulator.

Date Published: 1 October 1991
PDF: 10 pages
Proc. SPIE 1489, Structures Sensing and Control, (1 October 1991); doi: 10.1117/12.46606

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 1489:
Structures Sensing and Control
John Breakwell; Vijay K. Varadan, Editor(s)