Flight-proven multicamera autonomous attitude determination system (star tracker) for small satellites.
ARGO 1.0 Star Tracker
Flight-proven multicamera autonomous attitude determination system (star tracker) for small satellites.
Description
ARGO 1.0 is Hipparcos' multicamera Autonomous Attitude Determination System (AADS), designed to let a small satellite autonomously determine its attitude, angular rate, acceleration and the derivative of acceleration using onboard star-pattern recognition, without dependence on external references such as GNSS. The system uses a proprietary multi-camera architecture with integrated image processing electronics, built on more than three decades of heritage from parent company EICAS Automazione's work on ESA's original Hipparcos astrometry mission and the SAC-C and AST/MHS2 spacecraft programs.
ARGO 1.0 reached TRL8 through an in-orbit demonstration (IOD) campaign on D-Orbit's ION SCV2 orbital platform, launched 24 January 2021 and operated through July 2022. The IOD validated star pattern recognition, tracking-mode accuracy, robustness to straylight, correct behaviour with the Moon and Earth in the field of view, and in-orbit calibration routines. The unit supports RS422, SpaceWire and redundant CANBus interfaces for integration with spacecraft avionics.
Specifications
| Interface | RS422, SpaceWire, CANBus (redundant) |
|---|---|
| Flight heritage | In-orbit demonstration on D-Orbit ION SCV2, launched Jan 2021, validated through Jul 2022 |
| TRL | 8 (flight-demonstrated) |
| Validated functions | Pattern recognition, tracking-mode accuracy, straylight robustness, Moon/Earth-in-FOV handling, in-orbit calibration |
| Field of view | ± 11,2° |
| Frequency | 10 Hz |
| Accuracy | 1 arcsec (Systematic Error, 3 OH), 6 arcsec (NEA, 3σ, 3 OH) |
| Mass | 385 g (Camera), 355 g (RPCU) |
| Dimensions | 73 x 91 x h79 mm (Camera), 106 x 91 x h39 mm (RPCU) |
| Supply voltage | 9-60 V |
| Power | 2,7 W (Camera), 1,1 W (RPCU) |
| Operating temperature | -30°C to 60° C |
| Lifetime | 5 years in LEO |