ASTRO XP High Accuracy Star Tracker
Jena-Optronik
Ultra-high precision star tracker for science and EO missions: <0.1/<3.5 arcsec XY/Z accuracy, catoptric all-mirror optics, 3.3deg FOV, 10.2 mi sensitivity, separate OH+EU architecture.
Technical specifications
- Architecture
- Separate Optical Head (OH) + remote Electronics Unit (EU)
- Field of View
- 3.3 deg circular
- Optics
- Catoptric (all-mirror), 175mm focal length, f/2.0, low-CTE material
- Image Sensor
- FaintStar2 SoC, 1024x1024 px
- Update Rate
- 2, 4, or 8 Hz
- Accuracy XY (1-sigma)
- <=0.1 arcsec (no filtering)
- Accuracy Z (1-sigma)
- <=3.5 arcsec
- Thermoelastic Error
- <=0.005 arcsec/K
- Bias
- <=+/-0.5 arcsec
- Acquisition Time
- <=1 s
- Max Slew Rate
- <=0.5 deg/s (single OH); <=6 deg/s (with wide-FOV OH)
- Limiting Magnitude
- 10.2 mi @ 100ms integration
- OH Mass
- <=2.5 kg
- EU Mass
- <=1.3 kg
- OH+Baffle Dimensions
- 215 x 215 x 321 mm
- EU Dimensions
- 137 x 146 x 60 mm
- Power (OH)
- <=1.5 W
- Power (EU)
- <=5 W
- Supply Voltage
- 28-100 VDC
- Interface
- SpaceWire, MIL-1553
- Sun Exclusion Angle
- 30 deg half-cone
- Operating Temperature
- -40 to +30 deg C
- Radiation
- >=50 krad SEL; >=65 MeVcm2/mg SEL; up to 18yr GEO
About
The Jena-Optronik ASTRO XP (eXtreme Precision) is designed for the next generation of science and high-resolution Earth observation missions requiring ultra-high attitude accuracy. With less than 0.1 arcsec random error across-boresight and less than 3.5 arcsec boresight (5 stars, no filtering), it delivers approximately 10x better accuracy than the ASTRO APS/APS3. The catoptric (all-mirror) 175mm f/2.0 optics from low-CTE material eliminate chromatic aberration and thermoelastic error to less than 0.005 arcsec/K. The 3.3-degree FOV and limiting magnitude of 10.2 mi (at 100ms integration) enable attitude determination in dense star fields. Architecture separates the optical head (2.5 kg) from the electronics unit (1.3 kg), allowing remote mounting of the EU. Lost-in-space acquisition in less than 1 second. Won the Thuringer Innovationspreis 2020, developed under ESA contract.
Documentation
No public datasheet yet — request the datasheet / ICD from the supplier.
