Stjärnspårare

Stjärnspårare, often translated as star tracker or star sensor, is a navigational instrument used primarily in spacecraft to determine the orientation of the spacecraft in space. It works by observing the pattern of stars in its field of view and comparing it to an internal catalog of star positions. By identifying multiple stars and their precise locations, the star tracker can calculate the spacecraft's attitude, which is its orientation with respect to a celestial reference frame. This information is crucial for maintaining stable flight paths, pointing antennas towards Earth, and orienting scientific instruments accurately.

The principle behind a stjärnspårare involves imaging a portion of the sky. A digital camera or a similar imaging device captures the light from stars. Sophisticated algorithms then process this image, identifying individual star patterns. These patterns are cross-referenced with a stored star catalog. Once a sufficient number of stars are identified, their precise celestial coordinates can be used to triangulate the spacecraft's position and orientation. This process is highly accurate and provides a stable reference, unlike gyroscopes which can drift over time.

Stjärnspårare are essential components for many space missions, including satellites, space probes, and crewed spacecraft. Their ability to provide continuous, autonomous attitude determination makes them indispensable for long-duration missions where manual control is impractical or impossible. The reliability and accuracy of stjärnspårare have significantly advanced space exploration capabilities.