Abstract
The observation of the sightline to the center of the partially illuminated earth or moon is accomplished by a series of measurements by which the circular limb of the body is centered concentrically with the circular field stop in the instrument. Since the limb must be distinguished from the terminator independent knowledge of the sun’s direction is required to align the tracker mechanism appropriately. The measurements and calculations are digital and provide servo commands to align the gimballed tracker precisely on the geometrical center of the celestial body.
Presented at the IFAC Symposium on “Automatic Control in the Peaceful Uses of Space”, Stavanger, Norway, June 21–24, 1965.
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References
Pettit, E. and Nicholson, S. B., “Lunar Radiations and Temperatures,” Astrophysical Journal 71, 102–135, 1930.
Ehricke, K. A., “Space Flight, I. Environment and Celestial Mechanics,” New York: D. Van Nostrand, Inc., 1960, p 191.
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© 1966 Springer Science+Business Media New York
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Estey, R.S. (1966). Tracking the Partially Illuminated Earth or Moon. In: Aseltine, J.A. (eds) Peaceful Uses of Automation in Outer Space. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-6411-3_27
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-6411-3_27
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
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