Miniaturized Constellation Acquisition System - A compact constellation acquisition system for intersatellite laser interferometers

Kurzfassung

MiniCAS will comprise a modular system consisting of an optical receiver paired with a dedicated light source. Identical systems will be installed on two spacecraft. By detecting the light emitted by one spacecraft, the receiver on the distant spacecraft determines its misalignment with respect to the connecting line between the two satellites, the so-called Line of Sight (LOS). This measurement is directly related to the relative tilt of the respective spacecraft in relation to the LOS. A system like MiniCAS is essential to facilitate relative attitude control of constellations of two or more spacecraft with microradian sensitivity, potentially surpassing the achievable precision of conventional GNSS-based approaches. Naturally, MiniCAS is independent of the availability of GNSS signals, allowing for precise constellation acquisition in orbits around other celestial bodies than the Earth.