Star Tracker Misalignment Compensation in Deep Space Navigation Through Model-Based Estimation

Fuente: arXiv
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Autori principali: Ganganath, Ridma, Servadio, Simone, Lee, David
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2025
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author Ganganath, Ridma
Servadio, Simone
Lee, David
author_facet Ganganath, Ridma
Servadio, Simone
Lee, David
contents This work presents a novel adaptive framework for simultaneously estimating spacecraft attitude and sensor misalignment. Uncorrected star tracker misalignment can introduce significant pointing errors that compromise mission objectives in GPS-denied environments. To address this challenge, the proposed architecture integrates a Bayesian Multiple-Model Adaptive Estimation (MMAE) framework operating over an N x N x N 3D hypothesis grid. Each hypothesis employs a 9-state Multiplicative Extended Kalman Filter (MEKF) to estimate attitude, angular velocity, and gyroscope bias using TRIAD-based vector measurements. A key contribution is the development of a robust grid refinement strategy that uses hypothesis diversity and weighted-mean grid centering to prevent the premature convergence commonly encountered in classical, dominant model-based refinement triggers. Extensive Monte Carlo simulations demonstrate that the proposed method reduces the final misalignment RMSE relative to classical approaches, achieving arcsecond-level accuracy. The resulting framework offers a computationally tractable and statistically robust solution for in-flight calibration, enhancing the navigational autonomy of resource-constrained spacecraft.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2507_19838
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Star Tracker Misalignment Compensation in Deep Space Navigation Through Model-Based Estimation
Ganganath, Ridma
Servadio, Simone
Lee, David
Systems and Control
This work presents a novel adaptive framework for simultaneously estimating spacecraft attitude and sensor misalignment. Uncorrected star tracker misalignment can introduce significant pointing errors that compromise mission objectives in GPS-denied environments. To address this challenge, the proposed architecture integrates a Bayesian Multiple-Model Adaptive Estimation (MMAE) framework operating over an N x N x N 3D hypothesis grid. Each hypothesis employs a 9-state Multiplicative Extended Kalman Filter (MEKF) to estimate attitude, angular velocity, and gyroscope bias using TRIAD-based vector measurements. A key contribution is the development of a robust grid refinement strategy that uses hypothesis diversity and weighted-mean grid centering to prevent the premature convergence commonly encountered in classical, dominant model-based refinement triggers. Extensive Monte Carlo simulations demonstrate that the proposed method reduces the final misalignment RMSE relative to classical approaches, achieving arcsecond-level accuracy. The resulting framework offers a computationally tractable and statistically robust solution for in-flight calibration, enhancing the navigational autonomy of resource-constrained spacecraft.
title Star Tracker Misalignment Compensation in Deep Space Navigation Through Model-Based Estimation
topic Systems and Control
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.19838