NIMBUS ATTITUDE DETERMINATION SUBSYSTEM.

Abstract

The operational procedures and equipment requirements of a subsystem for determination of Nimbus satellite attitude by photogrammetric techniques is reported. Coordinate measurements of landmarks and common points in adjacent triplets appearing in kinescope generated cloud cover photographs are measured on a film reader whose output feeds a digital computer for immediate computation of attitude. This computer is programmed to test the film reader data and communicate with the film reader operator if omissions or mistakes are apparent. The subsystem is designed for rapid gathering of information and computation of attitude since the attitude determined by use of the subsystem is required for accurate referencing of Nimbus satellite data. A second function of the subsystem is the determination of electronic distortion occurring in the cloud cover photos by measurement of the fiducial marks which have been placed on the camera system vidicons. The technique of attitude determination through measurements of common points (matchpoints) in the overlapping areas of successive triplets will also facilitate automatic ''mosaicking'' of satellite cloud cover photographs. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 07, 1963
Accession Number
AD0420987

Entities

People

  • Cayla Dean
  • J. Greaves
  • R. Bartlett

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artificial Satellites
  • Cameras
  • Cloud Cover
  • Clouds
  • Computations
  • Computers
  • Digital Computers
  • Film Readers
  • Measurement
  • Optical Equipment
  • Photographic Equipment
  • Photographs
  • Photography
  • Satellite Orientation

Readers

  • Computer Science/Computer Engineering/Data Science/Digital Signal Processing.
  • Computer Vision.
  • Inertial Navigation Systems.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Space
  • Space - Satellites
  • Space - Spacecraft Maneuvers