Precise pointing and stabilization performance for the balloon-borne imaging testbed: 2015 test flight

Balloon-borne astronomy offers an attractive option for experiments that require precise pointing and attitude stabilization, due to a large reduction in the atmospheric interference observed by ground-based systems as well as the low-cost and short development time-scale compared to space-borne sys...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part G, Journal of aerospace engineering Journal of aerospace engineering, 2017-03, Vol.231 (4), p.713-727
Main Authors: Romualdez, L Javier, Damaren, Chris J, Li, Lun, Galloway, Mathew N, Hartley, John W, Netterfield, C Barth, Clark, Paul, Massey, Richard J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aerodynamics
Astronomical instruments
Astronomy
Attitude control
Attitude stability
Autonomy
Ground-based observation
Hubble Space Telescope
Image stabilizers
Sky
Space missions
Space telescopes
Spacecraft
Stabilization
System reliability
Target acquisition
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Summary:Balloon-borne astronomy offers an attractive option for experiments that require precise pointing and attitude stabilization, due to a large reduction in the atmospheric interference observed by ground-based systems as well as the low-cost and short development time-scale compared to space-borne systems. The Balloon-borne Imaging Testbed (BIT) is an instrument designed to meet the technological requirements of high-precision astronomical missions, and is a precursor to the development of a facility-class instrument with capabilities similar to the Hubble Space Telescope. The attitude determination and control systems (ADCS) for BIT, the design, implementation, and analysis of which are the focus of this paper, compensate for compound pendulation effects and other sub-orbital disturbances in the stratosphere to within 1–2′′ (rms), while back-end optics provide further image stabilization down to 0.05′′ (not discussed here). During the inaugural test flight from Timmins, Canada in September 2015, BIT ADCS pointing and stabilization performed exceptionally, with coarse pointing and target acquisition to within
ISSN:0954-4100
2041-3025
DOI:10.1177/0954410016641451