@article{DONG2006, 
author = {Ying DONG and Fei XING and Zheng YOU},
title = {Brightness Independent 4-Star Matching Algorithm for Lost-in-Space 3-Axis Attitude Acquisition},
year = {2006},
journal = {Tsinghua Science and Technology},
volume = {11},
number = {5},
pages = {543-548},
keywords = {star identification, attitude acquisition, star tracker, lost-in-space, active pixel sensor (APS)},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.1016/S1007-0214(06)70232-2},
doi = {10.1016/S1007-0214(06)70232-2},
abstract = {A star identification algorithm was developed for a charge-coupled device (CCD) or complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) autonomous star tracker to acquire 3-axis attitude information for a lost-in-space spacecraft. The algorithm took advantage of an efficient on-board database and an original “4-star matching” pattern recognition strategy to achieve fast and reliable star identification. The on-board database was composed of a brightness independent guide star catalog (mission catalog) and a K-vector star pair catalog. The star pattern recognition method involved direct location of star pair candidates and a simple array matching procedure. Tests of the algorithm with a CMOS active pixel sensor (APS) star tracker result in a 99.9% success rate for star identification for lost-in-space 3-axis attitude acquisition when the angular measurement accuracy of the star tracker is at least 0.01°. The brightness independent algorithm requires relatively higher measurement accuracy of the star apparent positions that can be easily achieved by CCD or CMOS sensors along with subpixel centroiding techniques.}
}