Three axis stellar sensor

Claim 2

A three axis star tracker comprising: a telescope said telescope having its axis lying in a plane parallel to a line of sight to a first radiant body, means having a second line of sight to a second radiant body and displaced 90° from said first line of sight, means for detecting the light from said first and second radiant bodies along their lines of sight, and means for measuring the errors along said first and second lines of sight and for computing the true location of the optimum sighting direction.

Claim 3

The star tracker of claim 1 wherein said means having a second line of sight comprises: a beam splitter positioned to intersect the axis of said telescope at an angle of 45°.

Claim 4

The star tracker of claim 1 wherein said means having a second line of sight comprises: a partially silvered mirror positioned to intersect the axis of said telescope at an angle of 45° said mirror having limited adjustment about an axis perpendicular to said first and second lines of sight so that radial light is intersected within a steradian of randomly positioned radiant bodies.

Claim 5

The star tracker of claim 3 comprising: means for driving said mirror within its adjustable range, and means for permitting rotation of said mirror about its adjustable range.

Claim 6

The star tracker of claim 4 comprising: means for measuring the angle of rotation of said mirror, flex pivot bearings permitting rotation of said mirror, and a preset motor connected to said mirror for driving said mirror into rotation.

Claim 7

The star tracker of claim 5 comprising: a stable member, a vehicle supporting said stable member therein said vehicle having a window aligned with a window of said telescope, and means for rotating said vehicle so that said telescope and said vehicle are oriented to said first radiant body along said first line of sight and thence oriented to said second radiant body along said second line of sight, whereby said star tracker measures the errors along said first and second lines of sight and computes the true location of the optimum sighting direction.

Claim 8

An optical sensor for determining the positions to radiant bodies comprising: a stable member, a vehicle having said stable member mounted therein, a telescope having its axis lying in a plane parallel to a line of sight of a first radiant body mounted on said stable member said telescope having a window aligned with a window of said vehicle, means having a second line of sight displaced 90° from said first line of sight to a second radiant body, and means for measuring the errors along said first line of sight and for computing the true location of the optimum sighting direction.

Claim 9

An optical sensor for determining the positions to radiant bodies comprising: a stable member, a vehicle having said stable member mounted therein, a telescope having its axis lying in a plane parallel to a line of sight of a first radiant body mounted on said stable member said telescope having a window aligned with a window of said vehicle, means having a second line of sight displaced 90° from said first line of sight to a second radiant body, and means for measuring the errors along said first line of sight and for computing the true location of the optimum sighting direction.

Claim 10

The optical sensor of claim 7 wherein said means having a second line of sight comprises: a beam splitter positioned to intersect the axis of said telescope at an angle of 45°.

Claim 11

The optical sensor of claim 7 wherein said means having a second line of sight comprises: a partially silvered mirror having parallel sides positioned to intersect the axis of said telescope at an angle of 45° said mirror passing light unobstructed to said first line of sight and being adjustable about an axis perpendicular to both first and second lines of sight.

Claim 12

An optical sensor for determining the position of a radiant body comprising: a vehicle having said optical sensor mounted therein said vehicle also having a window, a stable member mounted in said vehicle, a telescope mounted on said stable member said telescope having means for detecting the presence of light from a first radiant body along its axis parallel to a first line of sight, a partially silvered mirror located to intersect the axis of said telescope at an angle of 45° said mirror detecting a second radiant body along a second line of sight displaced 90° from said first line of sight said mirror being adjustable for rotation about an axis perpendicular to said first and second lines of sight, flex pivot bearings permitting rotation of said mirror about its axis, a preset motor connected to said mirror for driving said mirror into rotation, means for measuring the angle of rotation of said mirror, and means for comparing the errors along said first and second lines of sight and for computing the true location of the optimum sighting direction.

Claim 13

An optical sensor for determining the position of a radiant body comprising: a vehicle having said optical sensor mounted therein said vehicle also having a window, a stable member mounted in said vehicle, a telescope mounted on said stable member said telescope having means for detecting the presence of light from a first radiant body along its axis parallel to a first line of sight, a partially silvered mirror located to intersect the axis of said telescope at an angle of 45° said mirror detecting a second radiant body along a second line of sight displaced 90° from said first line of sight said mirror being adjustable for rotation about an axis perpendicular to said first and second lines of sight, flex pivot bearings permitting rotation of said mirror about its axis, a preset motor connected to said mirror for driving said mirror into rotation, means for measuring the angle of rotation of said mirror, and means for comparing the errors along said first and second lines of sight and for computing the true location of the optimum sighting direction.