Solar sensor
SPUTNIX
A compact sun sensor (SX-SBOX-SUNS-01) for the attitude control loop, with algorithms mitigating Earth-albedo glare, suitable for microsatellites and larger platforms.
Key figurescomparable across the catalogue
- Mass
- 0.045 kg
- Largest dimension
- 43 mm
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
- Dimensions
- 43 x 43 x 16 (without fasteners) mm
- Mass
- 45 g
- Power voltage
- 6-36 without galvanic isolation
- Power consumption, wt
- 0.4
- Duplicated interfaces
- CAN2B
- Field of view (FoV)
- half-angle cone 45°
- Accuracy (sigma)
- 0.15°
About
The solar sensor (SS) is intended for use in the attitude control loop to determine the direction unit vector to the Sun. Information from the sensor is presented as unit vector projections onto the axes of the sensor’s coordinate system; operation is based on transforming information about the exposure of the matrix photodetector to sunlight. A known problem with solar sensors operating in low orbits is glare from reflected light off the Earth; this device includes algorithms to combat such flares and provide the required accuracy. Minimization of dimensions and weight allows use in spacecraft such as CubeSats, while it can also be used in any other small spacecraft. It is SPUTNIX’s own development, ECSS-compatible, low cost, light weight, low power, with flight qualifications for analogue products, adapted to customer requirements, using unified interfaces.
Documentation
No public datasheet yet — request the datasheet / ICD from the supplier.