Initial performance of the attitude control and aspect determination subsystems on the Chandra Observatory

Robert A. Cameron; Thomas L. Aldcroft; William A. Podgorski; Mark D. Freeman; Jeffrey J. Shirer

doi:10.1117/12.391605

18 July 2000 Initial performance of the attitude control and aspect determination subsystems on the Chandra Observatory

Robert A. Cameron, Thomas L. Aldcroft, William A. Podgorski, Mark D. Freeman, Jeffrey J. Shirer

Proceedings Volume 4012, X-Ray Optics, Instruments, and Missions III; (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.391605
Event: Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation, 2000, Munich, Germany

Abstract

The pointing control and aspect determination subsystem of the Chandra X-ray Observatory plays a key role in realizing the full potential of Chandra's X-ray optics and detectors. We review the performance of the spacecraft hardware components and sub-systems, which provide information for both real time control of the attitude and attitude stability of the Chandra Observatory and also for more accurate post-facto attitude reconstruction. These flight components are comprised of the aspect camera (star tracker) and inertial reference units (gyros), plus the fiducial lights and fiducial transfer optics which provide an alignment null reference system for the science instruments and X-ray optics, together with associated thermal and structural components. Key performance measures will be presented for aspect camera focal plane data, gyro performance both during stable pointing and during maneuvers, alignment stability and mechanism repeatability.

Citation Download Citation

Robert A. Cameron, Thomas L. Aldcroft, William A. Podgorski, Mark D. Freeman, and Jeffrey J. Shirer "Initial performance of the attitude control and aspect determination subsystems on the Chandra Observatory", Proc. SPIE 4012, X-Ray Optics, Instruments, and Missions III, (18 July 2000); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.391605

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