Publications

Version: 1.1 Approved

LDO-ID 2017-02-06-02

Title Leonardo Fine Guidance Sensor: Sub-Arcsecond Pointing Accuracy for the Euclid European Observatory

Abstract

Leonardo developed some of the world's most accurate star trackers for ESA's space telescopes (XMM, ISO, SOHO, HERSCHEL etc.). During these missions, which are either still operating successfully in space or have already completed their in-orbit life, our star trackers demonstrated excellent performance , better than their one-arcsecond specifications. The Fine Olidance Sensor (FGS) is severa) orders of magnitudes more demanding in terms ofrelative attitude accuracy (0.03 arcseconds) and the required performance is not obtained by a single "unit" (such as an integrated star tracker optical head) but by a "system" composed of several elements. These include Euclid's telescope which is designed, manufactured and tested separately to the rest of the FGS. The Euclid FGS also allows for very precise absolute attitude measurement; i.e. orientation with re spect to a catalogue of known target objects. Finally, the Euclid FGS is also in charge of collecting sky irnages that could be used to support the scientific ob jectives of the mission. In the Euclid FGS the detector type and technolog ies , as well as the operating temperatures, are driven by the telescope 's design and by the other instruments assembled on the telescope foca) piane. However, the Euclid FGS configuration can be easily adapted to suit other missions with different payload instruments, environmental conditions and functionalities as the design is highly modular. This paper describes the specific Euclid FGS characteristics, performance and calibration/verification activities. Although it is by nature an instrument that needs to be tailored to the mission, the solutions experienced in the frame of the Euclid FGS will be instrumental to enable other applications requiring sub arcsecond attitude knowledge performance to accomplish their scientific objectives

Authors Boldrini Franco, Carnesecchi Francesca, Monnini Elisabetta, Morresi Marco, Airey Stephen, Saavedra Criado Gonzalo, Bosco Andrea

Type Paper for Seminar/Symposium/Conference

Media AAS GNC 2017 - Annual Guidance and Control Conference (03-08 February 2017, Breckenridge, CO USA)

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Anno 2017