Astronomers from the Bengaluru-based Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) and their collaborators have developed a new low-cost star sensor that can help small CubeSat-class satellites find their orientation in space.
The instrument, ‘Starberry-Sense’, built using commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) components, is ready for launch on the PSLV’s stage-4 orbital platform and can be used for CubeSats and other small satellite missions in the future.
Binukumar Nair, a co-author of the study, said: “Modular design allows for quick and easy customisation for various requirements. For example, even though StarBerry-Sense is meant for space-based applications, a modified version will be interfaced with the Major Atmospheric Cherenkov Experiment (MACE), located at the Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO), Hanle, Ladakh.”
Department of science and technology (DST) said that the sensor has successfully undergone a vibration and thermal vacuum test that qualifies it for a space launch and operations, and these tests were conducted in-house at the environmental test facility located at the CREST Campus of IIA in Hoskote.
Aside from Chandra (Integrated MTech-PhD in Astronomical Instrumentation, IIA) and Nair (Visiting Scientists, IIA), the study is c0-authored by Mayuresh Sarpotdar, former IIA Ph.D working with Dhruva Space, Richa Rai, a post-doctoral fellow at the National Institute for Nuclear Physics, Trieste, Italy, Rekhesh Mohan, Scientist D, IIA, Joice Mathew, instrumentation scientist at Australian National University (ANU), Margarita Safonova, IIA and Jayant Murthy, retired senior professor, IIA.
