Autonomous Star Tracker Performance for the New Horizons Mission

Rogers, Gabe; Schwinger, Marsha R.; Kaidy, James T.; Strikwerda, T. E.; Casini, R.; Landi, A.; Bettarini, Rossano; Lorenzini, Stefano

doi:10.2514/6.2006-6383

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…The nominal passive drift rate once an attitude has been achieved is 5 s −1 (Conard et al 2017), though analysis of images suggests it is frequently significantly better (Zemcov et al 2017). Details of the attitude control system can be found in Rogers et al (2006) and Fountain et al (2008). In addition to the attitude control performance, the propellant required to point the spacecraft is a limiting factor to the observations performed during any extended mission.…”

Section: Attitude Control Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Astrophysics with New Horizons: Making the Most of a Generational Opportunity

Zemcov¹,

Arcavi²,

Arendt³

et al. 2018

PASP

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The outer solar system provides a unique, quiet vantage point from which to observe the universe around us, where measurements could enable several niche astrophysical science cases that are too difficult to perform near Earth. NASA's New Horizons mission comprises an instrument package that provides imaging capability from ultraviolet (UV) to near-infrared (near-IR) wavelengths with moderate spectral resolution located beyond the orbit of Pluto. A carefully designed survey with New Horizons can optimize the use of expendable propellant and the limited data telemetry bandwidth to allow several measurements, including a detailed understanding of the cosmic extragalactic background light; studies of the local and extragalactic UV background; measurements of the properties of dust and ice in the outer solar system; confirmation and characterization of transiting exoplanets; determinations of the mass of dark objects using gravitational microlensing; and rapid follow-up of transient events. New Horizons is currently in an extended mission designed to focus on Kuiper Belt science that will conclude in 2021. The astrophysics community has a unique, generational opportunity to use this mission for astronomical observation at heliocentric distances beyond 50 au in the next decade. In this paper, we discuss the potential science cases for such an extended mission, and provide an initial assessment of the most important operational requirements and observation strategies it would require.

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Section: Attitude Control Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The nominal passive drift rate once an attitude has been achieved is 5″ s −1 (Conard et al 2017), though analysis of images suggests it is frequently significantly better (Zemcov et al 2017). Details of the attitude control system can be found in Rogers et al (2006) and Fountain et al (2008).…”

Section: Attitude Control Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Astrophysics with New Horizons: Making the Most of a Generational Opportunity

Zemcov¹,

Arcavi²,

Arendt³

et al. 2018

PASP

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Overview of the New Horizons Science Payload

et al.

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The New Horizons mission was launched on 2006 January 19, and the spacecraft is heading for a flyby encounter with the Pluto system in the summer of 2015. The challenges associated with sending a spacecraft to Pluto in less than 10 years and performing an ambitious suite of scientific investigations at such large heliocentric distances (> 32 AU) are formidable and required the development of lightweight, low power, and highly sensitive instruments. This paper provides an overview of the New Horizons science payload, which is comprised of seven instruments. Alice provides moderate resolution (~3-10 Å FWHM), spatially resolved ultraviolet (~465-1880 Å) spectroscopy, and includes the ability to perform stellar and solar occultation measurements. The Ralph instrument has two components: the Multicolor Visible Imaging Camera (MVIC), which performs panchromatic (400-975 nm) and color imaging in four spectral bands (Blue, Red, CH 4 , and NIR) at a moderate spatial resolution of 20 µrad/pixel, and the Linear Etalon Imaging Spectral Array (LEISA), which provides spatially resolved (62 µrad/pixel), near-infrared (1.25-2.5 µm), moderate resolution (λ/δλ ~ 240-550) spectroscopic mapping capabilities. The Radio Experiment (REX) is a component of the New Horizons telecommunications system that provides both radio (X-band) solar occultation and radiometry capabilities. The Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) provides high sensitivity (V < 18), high spatial resolution (5 µrad/pixel) panchromatic optical (350-850 nm) imaging capabilities that serve both scientific and optical navigation requirements. The Solar Wind at Pluto (SWAP) instrument measures the density and speed of solar wind particles with a resolution ∆E/E < 0.4 for energies between 25 eV and 7.5 keV. The Pluto Energetic Particle Spectrometer Science Investigation (PEPSSI) measures energetic particles (protons and CNO ions) in 12 energy channels spanning 1-1000 keV. Finally, an instrument designed and built by students, the Venetia Burney Student Dust Counter (VB-SDC), uses polarized polyvinylidene fluoride panels to record dust particle impacts during the cruise phases of the mission.

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Overview of the New Horizons Science Payload

et al. 2008

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The New Horizons mission was launched on 2006 January 19, and the spacecraft is heading for a flyby encounter with the Pluto system in the summer of 2015. The challenges associated with sending a spacecraft to Pluto in less than 10 years and performing an ambitious suite of scientific investigations at such large heliocentric distances (> 32 AU) are formidable and required the development of lightweight, low power, and highly sensitive instruments. This paper provides an overview of the New Horizons science payload, which is comprised of seven instruments. Alice provides spatially resolved ultraviolet spectroscopy. The Ralph instrument has two components: the Multicolor Visible Imaging Camera (MVIC), which performs panchromatic and color imaging, and the Linear Etalon Imaging Spectral Array (LEISA), which provides near-infrared spectroscopic mapping capabilities. The Radio Experiment (REX) is a component of the New Horizons telecommunications system that provides both occultation and radiometry capabilities. The Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) provides high sensitivity, high spatial resolution optical imaging capabilities. The Solar Wind at Pluto (SWAP) instrument measures the density and speed of solar wind particles. The Pluto Energetic Particle Spectrometer Science Investigation (PEPSSI) measures energetic protons and CNO ions. The Venetia Burney Student Dust Counter (VB-SDC) is used to record dust particle impacts during the cruise phases of the mission.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures, 1 table; To appear in a special volume of Space Science Reviews on the New Horizons missio

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Autonomous Star Tracker Performance for the New Horizons Mission

Cited by 3 publications

References 1 publication

Astrophysics with New Horizons: Making the Most of a Generational Opportunity

Astrophysics with New Horizons: Making the Most of a Generational Opportunity

Overview of the New Horizons Science Payload

Overview of the New Horizons Science Payload

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