Laboratory Test System Design for Star Sensor Performance Evaluation

A novel laboratory test system is designed to evaluate the performance of star sensors. Two evaluation methods are presented, the star images simulation test and the zenith observation experiments method. In star image simulation, the nebula and moon lights enter into the CCD field of view (FOV) is considered. A new algorithm for fast access star catalog is also designed to enhance the speed of star image simulation. Zenith observation provides a new method to test accuracy of star sensor without telescope. The results demonstrate that the test system is effectively to evaluate the star pattern recognition rates and relatively accuracy performance of star sensors.