Star Camera Research Articles

ITSG‐Grace2018: Overview and Evaluation of a New GRACE‐Only Gravity Field Time Series

AbstractITSG‐Grace2018 is a new series of GRACE‐only gravity field solutions based on reprocessed GRACE observation data (L1B RL03) and the latest atmosphere and ocean dealiasing product (AOD1B RL06). It includes unconstrained monthly and constrained daily solutions, as well as a high‐resolution static gravity field. Compared to the previous ITSG release, we implemented a number of improvements within the processing chain and use updated background models. In an effort to better model all known error sources, we propagate synthetic orientation uncertainties of the star camera assembly to the antenna offset correction for intersatellite ranging observations. This enables the disentanglement of the stationary noise of the K‐Band system and the nonstationary noise of the antenna offset correction. We further incorporated uncertainties of the atmosphere and ocean dealiasing product to reduce temporal aliasing effects. To mitigate errors in the applied ocean tide model, we used constrained GRACE estimates of selected tidal constituents as an additional background model. Variability over quiet ocean areas suggests a 27% to 46% lower noise level compared to the current spherical harmonic solutions of the official processing centers (300 km Gaussian filter applied). To ensure that the low noise floor is not accompanied by signal loss, we examined drainage basin averages, which showed consistent amplitudes with the official GRACE time series. These evaluations lead to the conclusion that ITSG‐Grace2018 is a state‐of‐the‐art GRACE time series which exhibits an excellent signal‐to‐noise ratio.

REVISITING THE APOLLO PHOTOGRAMMETRIC MAPPING SYSTEM

Abstract. The integrated photogrammetric mapping system flown on the last three Apollo lunar missions (AS15, AS16, and AS17) in 1971 and 1972 incorporated a Metric (mapping) Camera, a high-resolution Panoramic Camera, and a star camera and laser altimeter. The U.S. Geological Survey’s Astrogeology Science Center, the Intelligent Robotics Group of the NASA Ames Research Center, and Arizona State University are working together in an ongoing collaboration to achieve the most complete cartographic development of Apollo mapping system data into versatile digital map products. These will enable a variety of scientific/engineering uses of the data including mission planning, geologic mapping, geophysical process modelling, slope dependent correction of spectral data, and change detection. After a brief discussion of the origins of the mapping system, we describe the Metric and Panoramic cameras, processing of the associated image and support data, work to photogrammetrically control the Metric Camera images, and future plans.

Rapid telescope pointing calibration: a quaternion-based solution using low-cost hardware

A telescope control system relies on a pointing model to determine the gimbal angles that aim the telescope toward a desired target. High-accuracy telescope pointing models include parameters that describe the mount/telescope orientation as well as common mechanical effects. For professional telescopes, calibrating the pointing model requires careful initial alignment around a nominal orientation (e.g., leveling) followed by sightings of dozens to hundreds of stars to fit the model parameters. While this approach is effective for observatories, applications such as transportable optical ground stations for communications, space situational awareness, or astronomy using low-cost telescope networks can benefit from a more rapid calibration approach. We formulate a quaternion-based pointing model that utilizes measurements from an externally mounted star camera to compromise between calibration speed and accuracy. A key aspect of this formulation is that it is completely agnostic to the orientation of the telescope/mount so that no manual prealignment is required. We derive angle and rate commands for telescope pointing and tracking based on the model. We present results from a 15-min calibration procedure on a very low-cost telescope that demonstrated pointing to an accuracy of 53 arc sec RMS in azimuth and 66 arc sec RMS between 20-deg and 70-deg altitude.

Analysis of GRACE range-rate residuals with focus on KBR instrument system noise

We investigate the post-fit range-rate residuals after the gravity field parameter estimation from the inter-satellite ranging data of the gravity recovery and climate experiment (grace) satellite mission. Of particular interest is the high-frequency spectrum (f> 20 mhz) which is dominated by the microwave ranging system noise. Such analysis is carried out to understand the yet unsolved discrepancy between the predicted baseline errors and the observed ones. The analysis consists of two parts. First, we present the effects in the signal-to-noise ratio (snrs) of the k-band ranging system. The snrs are also affected by the moon intrusions into the star cameras’ field of view and magnetic torquer rod currents in addition to the effects presented by Harvey et al. (2016). Second, we analyze the range-rate residuals to study the effects of the kbr system noise. The range-rate residuals are dominated by the non-stationary errors in the high-frequency observations. These high-frequency errors in the range-rate residuals are found to be dependent on the temperature and effects of sun intrusion into the star cameras’ field of view reflected in the snrs of the k-band phase observations.

Digital optical correlator x-ray telescope alignment monitoring system

The High-Energy Replicated Optics to Explore the Sun (HEROES) program is a balloon-borne x-ray telescope mission to observe hard x-rays (∼20 to 70 keV) from the sun and multiple astrophysical targets. The payload consists of eight mirror modules with a total of 114 optics that are mounted on a 6-m-long optical bench. Each mirror module is complemented by a high-pressure xenon gas scintillation proportional counter. Attached to the payload is a camera that acquires star fields and then matches the acquired field to star maps to determine the pointing of the optical bench. Slight misalignments between the star camera, the optical bench, and the telescope elements attached to the optical bench may occur during flight due to mechanical shifts, thermal gradients, and gravitational effects. These misalignments can result in diminished imaging and reduced photon collection efficiency. To monitor these misalignments during flight, a supplementary Bench Alignment Monitoring System (BAMS) was added to the payload. BAMS hardware comprises two cameras mounted directly to the optical bench and rings of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted onto the telescope components. The LEDs in these rings are mounted in a predefined, asymmetric pattern, and their positions are tracked using an optical/digital correlator. The BAMS analysis software is a digital adaption of an optical joint transform correlator. The aim is to enhance the observational proficiency of HEROES while providing insight into the magnitude of mechanically and thermally induced misalignments during flight. Results from a preflight test of the system are reported.

Определение ориентации градиентометрической системы координат относительно инерциального пространства

The article represents the algorithm of attitude determination in gradiometer coordinate system with respect to inertial space. The problem can be solved in two steps. The first step is to determine the values of matrix transformation from celestial system (ICRF) to star camera coordinate system (SSRF) using observations star. The second step is to determine the values of matrix transformation from star camera coordinate system (SSRF) to gradiometer coordinate system (GRF). This problem is solved through mounting sensor systems on board of a satellite. Due to the mission GOCE three star cameras are mounted there. The matrix of transformation from star camera coordinate system (SSRF) to gradiometer coordinate system (GRF) is determined for every star camera. The values of transformation matrix are represented in file of data AUX_EGG_DB. Processing star camera’s (star cameras’) observations include the following steps

Observations of interplanetary dust by the Juno magnetometer investigation

AbstractOne of the Juno magnetometer investigation's star cameras was configured to search for unidentified objects during Juno's transit en route to Jupiter. This camera detects and registers luminous objects to magnitude 8. Objects persisting in more than five consecutive images and moving with an apparent angular rate of between 2 and 18,000 arcsec/s were recorded. Among the objects detected were a small group of objects tracked briefly in close proximity to the spacecraft. The trajectory of these objects demonstrates that they originated on the Juno spacecraft, evidently excavated by micrometeoroid impacts on the solar arrays. The majority of detections occurred just prior to and shortly after Juno's transit of the asteroid belt. This rather novel detection technique utilizes the Juno spacecraft's prodigious 60 m2 of solar array as a dust detector and provides valuable information on the distribution and motion of interplanetary (>μm sized) dust.

POLOCALC: A Novel Method to Measure the Absolute Polarization Orientation of the Cosmic Microwave Background

We describe a novel method to measure the absolute orientation of the polarization plane of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) photons with arcsecond accuracy, enabling unprecedented measurements for cosmology and fundamental physics. Existing and planned CMB polarization instruments looking for primordial B-mode signals need an independent, experimental method for systematics control on the absolute polarization orientation. The lack of such a method limits the accuracy of the detection of inflationary gravitational waves, the constraining power on the neutrino sector through measurements of gravitational lensing of the CMB, the possibility of detecting Cosmic Birefringence (CB), and the ability to measure primordial magnetic fields. Sky signals used for calibration and direct measurements of the detector orientation cannot provide an accuracy better than 1[Formula: see text]. Self-calibration methods provide better accuracy, but may be affected by foreground signals and rely heavily on model assumptions, losing constraining power on fundamental processes, like CB, Faraday Rotation and chiral gravity models. The POLarization Orientation CALibrator for Cosmology, POLOCALC, will dramatically improve instrumental accuracy by means of an artificial calibration source flying on high-altitude balloons and aerial drones. Polarization angle calibration requires observation of a well-characterized distant source at high elevation angles. A balloon-borne calibrator will provide a source in the far field of larger telescopes, while an aerial drone can be used for tests and smaller polarimeters. POLOCALC will also allow a unique method to measure the telescopes’ polarized beam. Even a two-hour balloon flight will allow enough time to perform polarization angle calibration and polarized beam function measurements. The source will make use of both narrow and broadband microwave emitters between 40[Formula: see text]GHz and 150[Formula: see text]GHz coupled to precise polarizing filters. The orientation of the source polarization plane will be registered to absolute celestial coordinates by star cameras and gyroscopes with arcsecond accuracy. This project can become a rung in the calibration ladder for the field: any existing or future CMB polarization experiment observing our novel polarization calibrator will enable measurements of the polarization angle for each detector with respect to absolute sky coordinates.

The Juno Radiation Monitoring (RM) Investigation

The Radiation Monitoring Investigation of the Juno Mission will actively retrieve and analyze the noise signatures from penetrating radiation in the images of Juno’s star cameras and science instruments at Jupiter. The investigation’s objective is to profile Jupiter’s \(>10\mbox{-MeV}\) electron environment in regions of the Jovian magnetosphere which today are still largely unexplored. This paper discusses the primary instruments on Juno which contribute to the investigation’s data suite, the measurements of camera noise from penetrating particles, spectral sensitivities and measurement ranges of the instruments, calibrations performed prior to Juno’s first science orbit, and how the measurements may be used to infer the external relativistic electron environment.

Significant improvement of gamma radiation resistance in CeO_2 doped phosphate glass by co-doping with Sb_2O_3

We show that the gamma radiation resistances of new type of phosphate glass can be greatly improved by CeO2 and Sb2O3 co-doping. With the doping of CeO2, the radiation resistance (transmittance decrease ratio) is improved from 57.39% to 73.9% at 525 nm, and from 56.4% to 61.9% at 385 nm, respectively, when optical glasses were exposed to the gamma radiation with the dose of 250 krad (Si). It further increases to 92.4% at 525 nm by co-doping with Sb2O3, meanwhile, the induced optical losses were distinctly restrained at 1064 nm and 1550 nm, which shows potential applications in the fields of space-born star camera systems, laser window optics, fiber gyroscopes and communications.

PHOTOGRAMMETRIC PROCESSING OF APOLLO 15 METRIC CAMERA OBLIQUE IMAGES

The integrated photogrammetric mapping system flown on the last three Apollo lunar missions (15, 16, and 17) in the early 1970s incorporated a Metric (mapping) Camera, a high-resolution Panoramic Camera, and a star camera and laser altimeter to provide support data. In an ongoing collaboration, the U.S. Geological Survey’s Astrogeology Science Center, the Intelligent Robotics Group of the NASA Ames Research Center, and Arizona State University are working to achieve the most complete cartographic development of Apollo mapping system data into versatile digital map products. These will enable a variety of scientific/engineering uses of the data including mission planning, geologic mapping, geophysical process modelling, slope dependent correction of spectral data, and change detection. Here we describe efforts to control the oblique images acquired from the Apollo 15 Metric Camera.

PHOTOGRAMMETRIC PROCESSING OF APOLLO 15 METRIC CAMERA OBLIQUE IMAGES

Abstract. The integrated photogrammetric mapping system flown on the last three Apollo lunar missions (15, 16, and 17) in the early 1970s incorporated a Metric (mapping) Camera, a high-resolution Panoramic Camera, and a star camera and laser altimeter to provide support data. In an ongoing collaboration, the U.S. Geological Survey’s Astrogeology Science Center, the Intelligent Robotics Group of the NASA Ames Research Center, and Arizona State University are working to achieve the most complete cartographic development of Apollo mapping system data into versatile digital map products. These will enable a variety of scientific/engineering uses of the data including mission planning, geologic mapping, geophysical process modelling, slope dependent correction of spectral data, and change detection. Here we describe efforts to control the oblique images acquired from the Apollo 15 Metric Camera.

GRACE star camera noise

Extending results from previous work by Bandikova et al. (2012) and Inacio et al. (2015), this paper analyzes Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) star camera attitude measurement noise by processing inter-camera quaternions from 2003 to 2015. We describe a correction to star camera data, which will eliminate a several-arcsec twice-per-rev error with daily modulation, currently visible in the auto-covariance function of the inter-camera quaternion, from future GRACE Level-1B product releases. We also present evidence supporting the argument that thermal conditions/settings affect long-term inter-camera attitude biases by at least tens-of-arcsecs, and that several-to-tens-of-arcsecs per-rev star camera errors depend largely on field-of-view.

Mysterious misalignments between geomagnetic and stellar reference frames seen in CHAMP and Swarm satellite measurements

AbstractThe orientation of a spacecraft in Low Earth Orbit can be determined accurately from either magnetic field measurements or star camera images. Ideally, the independently computed spacecraft attitudes should agree. However, we find that the German CHAMP and European Space Agency triple-satellite Swarm geomagnetic satellites exhibit consistent misalignments between the stellar and geomagnetic reference frames, which oscillate with the local time of the orbit. Having an amplitude of 20 arcsec, these oscillations are more than an order of magnitude larger than the stability of the optical bench, which cohosts the magnetometers and star cameras. The misalignments could originate either from the magnetometer or star camera measurements. On one hand, as-yet-unknown external magnetic field contributions could appear as a rotation of the geomagnetic reference frame. On the other hand, the observed misalignments agree in amplitude and phase with the effects of stellar aberration, caused by the movement of the star cameras relative to the light rays emitted by the stars. This is surprising because stellar aberration is allegedly already corrected for by the star image processing system. Resolving these mysterious misalignments is key to fulfilling the measurement accuracy requirements and science objectives of the ongoing Swarm mission. If caused by stellar aberration, fully correcting for this effect could significantly improve the attitude accuracy not only of CHAMP and Swarm, but also of several other past and ongoing scientific satellite missions.

Swarm kinematic orbits and gravity fields from 18 months of GPS data

The Swarm mission consists of three satellites orbiting the Earth at low orbital altitudes. The onboard GPS receivers, star cameras, and laser retro-reflectors make the Swarm mission an interesting candidate to explore the contribution of Swarm GPS data to the recovery of both the static and time-variable gravity fields. We use 1.5years of Swarm GPS and attitude data to generate kinematic positions of high quality to perform gravity field determination using the Celestial Mechanics Approach. The generated gravity fields reveal severe systematic errors along the geomagnetic equator. Their size is correlated with the ionospheric density and thus strongly varying over the analyzed time period. Similar to the findings of the GOCE mission, the systematic errors are related to the Swarm GPS carrier phase data and may be reduced by rejecting GPS data affected by large ionospheric changes. Such a measure yields a strong reduction of the systematic errors along the geomagnetic equator in the gravity field recovery. Long wavelength signatures of the gravity field may then be recovered with a similar quality as achieved with GRACE GPS data, which makes the Swarm mission well suited to bridge a potential gap between the current GRACE and the future GRACE Follow-On mission.

DTU candidate field models for IGRF-12 and the CHAOS-5 geomagnetic field model

We present DTU’s candidate field models for IGRF-12 and the parent field model from which they were derived, CHAOS-5. Ten months of magnetic field observations from ESA’s Swarm mission, together with up-to-date ground observatory monthly means, were used to supplement the data sources previously used to construct CHAOS-4. The internal field part of CHAOS-5, from which our IGRF-12 candidate models were extracted, is time-dependent up to spherical harmonic degree 20 and involves sixth-order splines with a 0.5 year knot spacing. In CHAOS-5, compared with CHAOS-4, we update only the low-degree internal field model (degrees 1 to 24) and the associated external field model. The high-degree internal field (degrees 25 to 90) is taken from the same model CHAOS-4h, based on low-altitude CHAMP data, which was used in CHAOS-4. We find that CHAOS-5 is able to consistently fit magnetic field data from six independent low Earth orbit satellites: Orsted, CHAMP, SAC-C and the three Swarm satellites (A, B and C). It also adequately describes the secular variation measured at ground observatories. CHAOS-5 thus contributes to an initial validation of the quality of the Swarm magnetic data, in particular demonstrating that Huber weighted rms model residuals to Swarm vector field data are lower than those to Orsted and CHAMP vector data (when either one or two star cameras were operating). CHAOS-5 shows three pulses of secular acceleration at the core surface over the past decade; the 2006 and 2009 pulses have previously been documented, but the 2013 pulse has only recently been identified. The spatial signature of the 2013 pulse at the core surface, under the Atlantic sector where it is strongest, is well correlated with the 2006 pulse, but anti-correlated with the 2009 pulse.

Stratospheric imaging of polar mesospheric clouds: A new window on small‐scale atmospheric dynamics

AbstractInstabilities and turbulence extending to the smallest dynamical scales play important roles in the deposition of energy and momentum by gravity waves throughout the atmosphere. However, these dynamics and their effects have been impossible to quantify to date due to lack of observational guidance. Serendipitous optical images of polar mesospheric clouds at ∼82 km obtained by star cameras aboard a cosmology experiment deployed on a stratospheric balloon provide a new observational tool, revealing instability and turbulence structures extending to spatial scales < 20 m. At 82 km, this resolution provides sensitivity extending to the smallest turbulence scale not strongly influenced by viscosity: the “inner scale” of turbulence, l0∼10(ν3/ϵ)1/4. Such images represent a new window into small‐scale dynamics that occur throughout the atmosphere but are impossible to observe in such detail at any other altitude. We present a sample of images revealing a range of dynamics features and employ numerical simulations that resolve these dynamics to guide our interpretation of several observed events.

On-orbit calibration approach for star cameras based on the iteration method with variable weights.

To perform efficient on-orbit calibration for star cameras, we developed an attitude-independent calibration approach for global optimization and noise removal by least-square estimation using multiple star images, with which the optimal principal point, focal length, and the high-order focal plane distortion can be obtained in one step in full consideration of the interaction among star camera parameters. To avoid the problem when stars could be misidentified in star images, an iteration method with variable weights is introduced to eliminate the influence of misidentified star pairs. The approach can increase the precision of least-square estimation and use fewer star images. The proposed approach has been well verified to be precise and robust in three experiments.

Pixel response function experimental techniques and analysis of active pixel sensor star cameras

The pixel response function (PRF) of a pixel within a focal plane is defined as the pixel intensity with respect to the position of a point source within the pixel. One of its main applications is in the field of astrometry, which is a branch of astronomy that deals with positioning data of a celestial body for tracking movement or adjusting the attitude of a spacecraft. Complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors generally offer better radiation tolerance to protons and heavy ions than CCDs making them ideal candidates for space applications aboard satellites, but like all image sensors they are limited by their spatial frequency response, better known as the modulation transfer function. Having a well-calibrated PRF allows us to eliminate some of the uncertainty in the spatial response of the system providing better resolution and a more accurate centroid estimation. This paper describes the experimental setup for determining the PRF of a CMOS image sensor and analyzes the effect on the oversampled point spread function (PSF) of an image intensifier, as well as the effects due to the wavelength of light used as a point source. It was found that using electron bombarded active pixel sensor (EBAPS) intensification technology had a significant impact on the PRF of the camera being tested as a result of an increase in the amount of carrier diffusion between collection sites generated by the intensification process. Taking the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the resulting data, it was found that the intensified version of a CMOS camera exhibited a PSF roughly 16.42% larger than its nonintensified counterpart.

Lunar Surface Reconstruction from Apollo MC Images

The last three Apollo lunar missions (15, 16, and 17) carried an integrated photogrammetric mapping system of a metric camera (MC), a high-resolution panoramic camera, a star camera, and a laser altimeter. Recently images taken by the MC were scanned by Arizona State University (ASU); these images contain valuable information for scientific exploration, engineering analysis, and visualization of the Moon’s surface. In this article, we took advantage of the large overlaps, the multi viewing, and the high ground resolution of the images taken by the Apollo MC in generating an accurate and reliable surface of the Moon. We started by computing the relative positions and orientations of the exposure stations through a rigorous photogrammetric bundle adjustment process. We then generated a surface model using a hierarchical correlation-based matching algorithm. The matching algorithm was implemented in a multi-photo scheme and permits the exclusion of obscured pixels. The generated surface model was registered with LOLA topographic data and the comparison between the two surfaces yielded an average absolute difference of 36 m. These results look very promising and demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm in accounting for depth discontinuities, occlusions, and image-signal noise.