Patent ID: 6484073
Filing Date: 2002-11-19
Classification: G01S,H04B

Abstract:
A device for determining the attitude on board a first satellite comprising:a data transfer device for carrying out optical data exchange between said first satellite and at least two other satellites; a device for determining attitude of said first satellite; a device for determining directional vectors in an inertial co-ordinate system based on the attitude of said first satellite and on directional vectors from said at least two other satellites, said directional vectors being adapted for transmission by the data transfer device between said first satellite and said at least two other satellites; a device for determining a respective directional vector directed to said at least two other satellites, in a body-fixed co-ordinate system of said first satellite; and said device for determining in said first satellite a respective directional vector from said at least two other satellites including means for receiving laser beam signals of said directional vectors from said at least two other satellites, a coarse pointing assembly and a fine pointing assembly, said coarse pointing assembly and said fine pointing assembly being connected to correct any deviation of said laser beam signals of said directional vectors with respect to a reference.