METHOD FOR DETERMINATION OF COURSE ORIENTATION OF SPACECRAFT Russian patent published in 2008 - IPC G01C21/08 

FIELD: physics; measurement.

SUBSTANCE: suggested method for determination of SC course orientation is intended for application in SC motion control system (MCS). Method is based on measurement of radiance of subjacent surface points located on the line that is perpendicular to SC axis projection, for which course angle is detected, on subjacent surface, with further mathematical processing of measurement results. Measurements are performed twice with time interval Δt between measurements. From both arrays of measured values of subjacent surface points radiance, two samples are prepared that are identical in number of values, without omissions inside samples, and mutual correlation ratio is calculated for them. Then new sampling is done in one of measurement arrays with displacement along line of measurements by one value. Mutual correlation ratio is again calculated. Procedure of calculations is repeated until "sampling" covers the whole array of measurements. Calculated mutual correlation ratios are analysed for availability of maximum value (in the extreme equal to 1). Displacement along line of measurements that corresponds to maximum value of mutual correlation, is used for calculation of course angle.

EFFECT: provides possibility to determine course orientation in automatic mode on any section of orbit, including night section.

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