Attitude and Interlock Angle Estimation using Split-Field-of-View

An efficient Kalman filter based algorithm has been proposed for the spacecraft attitude estimation problem using a novel split-field-of-view star-camera and 3-axis rate gyros. The conventional spacecraft attitude algorithm has been modified for on-orbit estimation of in-terlock angles between the two fields of view of star-camera, gyro axis and the spacecraft body frame. Real time estimation of the in-terlock angles makes the attitude estimates more robust to thermal and environmental effects than in ground estimation, and makes the overall system more tolerant of off-nominal structural, mechanical and optical assembly anomalies.