METHOD OF IMPROVING ACCURACY OF DETERMINING CELESTIAL ORIENTATION AND PROLONGED MAINTENANCE OF HIGH ACCURACY OF DETERMINING ORIENTATION AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Russian patent published in 2016 - IPC G01C21/24 B64G1/36 

FIELD: physics.

SUBSTANCE: method of improving the accuracy of determining celestial orientation includes projecting a stellar image through an optical system on a radiation detector array. Stellar images occupy a region measuring at least 2×2 pixels. The position of the weighted centre of the stellar image is determined based on individual pixel characteristics. Data on individual pixel characteristics are updated from time to time using a sensor by performing calibration, wherein light from the optical system is blocked by a lightproof shutter using a shutter control device, and the radiation detector array is uniformly illuminated by a calibration illuminator. The lightproof shutter is placed between the optical system and the radiation detector array. The shutter consists of a rocker in the form of a screening lobe aperture with a magnet embedded in the rocker and an actuating solenoid.

EFFECT: high accuracy of determining orientation and maintaining accuracy for a long period of time during the operation of the sensor.

10 cl, 4 dwg