NSS3 Sun Sensor
Serenum Space
Miniature, fully autonomous digital sun sensor with <0.02° precision and CubeSat Space Protocol over I2C.
Technical specifications
- Field of view (FOV)
- > ±50 degrees
- Precision (w/o albedo)
- < 0.02 deg @ 1σ
- Size (X/Y/Z)
- 20.5 x 10.5 x 4.8 mm
- Mass
- 3 g
- Operational temperature
- -40 °C to 85 °C (100 TVC cycles -70 °C to +110 °C)
- Supply voltage
- 2.7-3.7 V
- Supply current
- < 2.2 mA active mode @ 3.3 V
- Radiation tolerance
- > 60 krad (Si)
- Measurement rate
- 10 measurements per second
- Expected lifetime
- 2 years
- Interface
- Digital I2C, CubeSat Space Protocol over I2C or I2C slave mode
- Availability
- 6 weeks
About
The NSS3 Sun Sensor was designed with an emphasis on the smallest possible size while preserving outstanding precision of better than 0.2 degrees (0.02 deg without albedo per the detailed spec table), making it a great choice for CubeSat missions with a tight mass and energy budget but high ADCS requirements. The device features a digital I2C interface, is fully autonomous, and can operate independently of the onboard computer: all sun-angle calculations are performed by a built-in microcontroller, which provides the user with calibrated, ready-to-use information about the sun position angle in two axes. Highlighted features include precise, small-size, and lightweight construction; full autonomy; CubeSat Space Protocol (CSP) support over I2C or an I2C slave mode option; its own onboard microcontroller; factory calibration; radiation tolerance greater than 60 krad (Si); minimal footprint on the satellite surface; non-magnetic construction; and integrated temperature and power bus voltage sensors with health statistics, interface status data, uptime, and counters. Typical applications include accurate sun position determination, satellite attitude determination, satellite solar panel positioning, and control of suborbital rockets, balloons, and UAVs.
Documentation
No public datasheet yet — request the datasheet / ICD from the supplier.
