Development and testing of a microbolometer-based satellite earth sensor utilizing commercial off-the-shelf technology

In response to the recent growth of the microsatellite and nanosatellite marketplace, Spectral Applied Research initiated a program to fully commercialize its design of an innovative new Earth horizon sensor technology, known as the Satellite Attitude Sensor (SAS). As a result, the Commercial-Off-The-Shelf Satellite Attitude Sensor (COTS SAS) project was undertaken to explore the feasibility of using commercially available optical and electronic components in space-based applications, specifically in the area of satellite attitude control.; The scope of this thesis was to explore the viability of utilizing this Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) technology in the creation of a low-cost Earth horizon sensor based on the SAS operational principles. Specifically, this COTS technology was to consist of components (both optical and electrical) which were widely available on the commercial market, but not normally intended for use in the environment of space.; To fulfill this requirement, a functionally representative breadboard prototype satellite attitude sensor model was constructed, based on a commercially available uncooled poly-Silicon-Germanium microbolometer infrared detector array, and a generic 16-bit analog-to-digital signal conversion module.; The preliminary results obtained from the characterization of this prototype sensor model, under adverse electrical and high-energy gamma radiation conditions, demonstrated that the use of COTS technology, in this application, provides a sufficient margin of performance to satisfy the attitude control requirements of a small satellite during a typical two-year mission in low Earth orbit.