HARDWARE / PRODUCTUpdated 24 Jul 2026

A-STR Autonomous Star Tracker

Leonardo SpA (Space Division)

The Leonardo A-STR (Autonomous Star Tracker) is a medium-FOV star tracker in a single assembly housing a radiation-hardened MPP CCD detector. Provides autonomous attitude acquisition without prior spacecraft orientation knowledge (lost-in-space in less than 6 seconds), tracking of up to 10 stars, and in-flight software reprogramming. Attitude bias accuracy is 8.25 arcsec (pitch/yaw) and 11.1 […]

Key figurescomparable across the catalogue

Mass
3.55 kg
Power
8.9 W
Largest dimension
290.5 mm
Design life
18 years
TRL
9

Normalised to common units so this product can be compared with others in its category. The supplier's own wording is below.

As published by the supplier

Detector
MPP CCD (radiation-hardened)
FOV
16.4 x 16.4 deg
Dynamic range
1.5-5.5 Mi
Max stars tracked
10
Tracking rate
Up to 2 deg/s
Lis acquisition time
<6 s
Update rate
10 Hz, 4 Hz
Accuracy (bias, 3-sigma, EOL)
8.25 arcsec pitch/yaw; 11.1 arcsec roll
Nea @ 0.1 deg/s
<6 arcsec pitch/yaw; <63 arcsec roll
Dimensions
195 x 175 x 290.5 mm (40 deg SEA baffle)
Mass
3.55 kg (incl. baffle, GEO shielding)
Supply voltage
20-50 V
Power
8.9 W @ 20 deg C; 13.5 W @ 60 deg C
Interface
MIL-STD-1553B, RS-422
Operating temperature
-30 to +60 deg C
Design lifetime
18 years GEO
TRL
9 (100+ FMs sold since 2001)

About

The Leonardo A-STR (Autonomous Star Tracker) is a medium-FOV star tracker in a single assembly housing a radiation-hardened MPP CCD detector. Provides autonomous attitude acquisition without prior spacecraft orientation knowledge (lost-in-space in less than 6 seconds), tracking of up to 10 stars, and in-flight software reprogramming. Attitude bias accuracy is 8.25 arcsec (pitch/yaw) and 11.1 arcsec (roll) 3-sigma EOL. Update rate is 10 Hz; slew tracking up to 2 deg/s. Power supply 20-50V; power consumption 8.9W at 20 deg C. Mass 3.55 kg including 40-degree sun exclusion angle baffle and GEO shielding. Interfaces via MIL-STD-1553B or RS-422. Designed for 18-year GEO lifetime. Over 100 flight models sold since 2001 for GEO, LEO, and interplanetary missions.

Documentation

No public datasheet yet — request the datasheet / ICD from the supplier.

Source: space.leonardo.com ↗

The rest of the range from Leonardo SpA (Space Division)

All 5 products →

Star Trackers 1 same category

Payloads & Instruments 1

Sun Sensors 1