Improvement Of The Spacelab Instrument Pointing System

A. Woelker; J. Hartmann; R. Hartmann; R. Klewin

doi:10.1117/12.944205

3 May 1988 Improvement Of The Spacelab Instrument Pointing System

A. Woelker, J. Hartmann, R. Hartmann, R. Klewin

Proceedings Volume 0887, Acquisition, Tracking, and Pointing II; (1988) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.944205
Event: 1988 Los Angeles Symposium: O-E/LASE '88, 1988, Los Angeles, CA, United States

Abstract

The Spacelab Instrument Pointing System (IPS) is a three axes gimbal system providing pointing and stabilization in the arcsec range to a variety of space experiments with a mass of up to 7000 kg. The IPS demonstrated a high performance and versatility in operations during its maiden flight, the Spacelab 2 mission onboard Challenger in July 1985. The mature mechanical design of the IPS together with the growth in processor and sensor technology revealed a considerable potential for further improvements at moderate effort. By incorporating advanced sensors, computers and software, the IPS pointing performance is improved and the range of IPS applications is widened. In order to achieve a high degree of IPS autonomy and automation, a new computer and software architecture has been conceived, yielding high independence from external services, automation of operational procedures and thus a simpler man-machine interface. The improved IPS is capable to perform closed loop tracking of moving objects. The IPS simulator PERFSIM demonstrates a tracking accuracy and stability being close to the inertial pointing performance. Taking full advantage of the IPS automation and autonomy features, the ultimate goal is to achieve full platform autonomy, that is to use the improved IPS as a self-contained tracking and pointing system on the Space Staion or other free-flying platforms.

Citation Download Citation

A. Woelker, J. Hartmann, R. Hartmann, and R. Klewin "Improvement Of The Spacelab Instrument Pointing System", Proc. SPIE 0887, Acquisition, Tracking, and Pointing II, (3 May 1988); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.944205

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available