ASTRO APS3 Autonomous Star Sensor
Jena-Optronik
Next-gen Jena-Optronik star tracker: 1.8kg, <6W, 20deg FOV, <0.8/<7 arcsec XY/Z accuracy, <1s lost-in-space acquisition, 7.0 mi sensitivity, 8-16 Hz, SpaceWire/1553/RS422.
Technical specifications
- Field of View
- 20 deg full-cone (circular)
- Optics
- Refractive, 29mm focal length, f/1.0
- Image Sensor
- FaintStar2 SoC, 1024x1024 px
- Update Rate
- 8, 10, or 16 Hz
- Accuracy (XY/Z, 1-sigma total)
- <=0.8 / 7.0 arcsec (at <0.1 deg/s)
- Acquisition Time (lost-in-space)
- <1 s (no a priori)
- Max Slew Rate
- <=6.0 deg/s
- Limiting Magnitude
- 7.0 mi
- Mass
- <=1.8 kg (incl. 26 deg baffle)
- Dimensions
- 148 x 142 x 210 mm (incl. baffle)
- Power
- <6W (TEC off); <8W (TEC on)
- Supply Voltage
- 5V, 28V, 50V, 100V
- Interface
- SpaceWire, MIL-STD-1553, RS422 UART
- Sun Exclusion Angle
- 26 deg half-cone
- Earth Exclusion Angle
- ~20 deg half-cone
- Operating Temperature
- -30 to +60 deg C (with TEC)
- Radiation
- <=15yr LEO; >18yr GEO without shielding; 100 krad
About
The Jena-Optronik ASTRO APS3 is the next-generation successor to the ASTRO APS, offering improved performance in a more compact and lightweight package. Based on 500+ ASTRO APS units contracted, the APS3 achieves less than 0.8/7.0 arcsec XY/Z total attitude accuracy and less than 1 second lost-in-space acquisition time — a 5x improvement over its predecessor. The FaintStar2 SoC image sensor enables limiting magnitude of 7.0 mi, one magnitude deeper than the APS. Mass is less than 1.8 kg including the 26-degree baffle; power under 6W (TEC off) or 8W (TEC on). Update rate is 8, 10, or 16 Hz. Interfaces include SpaceWire, MIL-STD-1553, and RS422 UART. Supports 5V, 28V, 50V, and 100V supply. Radiation tolerance exceeds 15 years LEO and 18 years GEO without additional shielding. Near drop-in replacement for ASTRO APS.
Documentation
No public datasheet yet — request the datasheet / ICD from the supplier.
