Attitude sensors and imaging devices for satellites

If our knowledge of the universe has made significant advances in recent years, it's mainly thanks to recent advances in optronics. The emergence of new detectors (e.g. charge-coupled devices (CCDs)) linked to new electronic components such as microprocessors and ASICs, and to new signal processing techniques (data compression), has made it possible to build high-performance optronic systems for use on artificial Earth satellites, interplanetary probes and space vehicles.

In recent years, mankind has become increasingly interested in the planet Earth, and more particularly in its immediate environment (evolution of the oceans, submerged lands, meteorology, ozone layer...). This has necessitated the use of other types of detectors (infrared, for example) and the development of new instruments combining state-of-the-art optical and electronic techniques.

In addition, the servitude requirements of these satellite platforms often call for increasingly precise stabilization and pointing devices, requiring the use of optronic elements.

Space optronics applications can be classified under four headings according to the applications concerned:

• attitude control systems ;

• observation and shooting devices ;

• the onboard scientific instrument ;

• optical telecommunications.

In this article, we'll focus on the first two: attitude control and Earth observation.