Sodern Auriga SA
€100,000
The compact star tracker for small satellite missions & constellations, Auriga™ star tracker is packed with the latest high-tech components and optimized for small satellite platforms of less than 500kg and for CubeSats starting from 6U. Radiation-resistant with a thicker casing and hardened optics, Auriga™ allows a lifetime of over 15 years in geostationary orbit and 10 years in low Earth orbit (LEO 400-1,200km). With its standardized components, Auriga™ is specifically designed to meet cost reduction objectives while offering excellent technical performance and reliability. Its reduced volume (66 x 59 x 94 mm) and its weight of 225g make it the most compact star tracker in its category. Over 1200 Auriga™ are already in orbit with a mission success rate of 100%.
Star Tracker optical head and an electronic unit for plug-and-play integration:
- Specifically designed for small satellite missions.
- Low-cost, high-production rate, reduced weight and volume.
- Guaranteed for 10 years lifetime in LEO orbit.
- In orbit demonstration since 2019.
- Inherited from our 50 years of experience with star trackers.
*From 100.000 € for one optical head and one electronic unit (indicative price excluding NRE).
Lead Time: Less than 3 months for small volumes for Auriga-CP. Dual use product, lead time might be subject to export control licence delay of approval.
Description
Optical Head (OH)
- Baffle protection for direct Sun and Earth illumination
- Up to 3 Optical Heads may be connected to 1 Electronic Unit through the SpaceWire interface
- Lifetime can be up to 10 years in LEO and 15 years I GEO orbit with EOR
Electronic Unit (EU)
- Embedded software processing OH’s data and computing the attitude
- Can perform OH FDIR through an autonomous individual OH switch ON/OFF
- The operating frequency is assumed to be a 10 Hz operating refresh rate
- Embedded Star Catalog and Algorithms inherited from 50 years of experience and Hydra Star Tracker.
Specifications
Environmental Characteristics
| Operating temperature range (°C) | -20/+40 |
| Storage temperature (°C) | -30/+70 |
| Mechanical environment (in/out of plane) | 14/22 gRMS gRMS / 2000gSRS @2000 Hz |
| OH size (mm, including baffle) | 66 x 56 x 94 (height) |
| EU size (mm) | 91 x 117 x 25 (height) |
| OH mass (g, including baffle) | 205 |
| EU mass (g) | 315 |
Reliability, Availability and Lifetime
| EEE parts class for OH | ECSS Class 3 equivalent and Automotive |
| EEE parts class for EU | ECSS Class 3 equivalent and Automotive |
| Reliability for OH | 230 FIT (FIDES method @20°C) |
| Reliability for EU | 470 FIT (FIDES method @20°C) |
| Lifetime (years) | 10 in LEO 400-1200km; 15 in GEO with EOR |
Electrical Interfaces
| OH Power supply (V) | Supplied by EU |
| EU Power supply (V) | 5V (±5%) |
| OH Power consumption (W, typ/max) | 0.8/1.1 |
| EU Power consumption (W, typ/max) | 2.5/3.4 |
| Output data | EU: RS422 UART (115200 baud) |
| Output rate (Hz) | 8 or 10 |
Performances and Robustness
| Bias (worst case) | 0.017 deg |
| Thermo-elastic Error (worst case) | 1 arcsec/°C |
| Low Frequency spatial (FOV) error XY/Z @ 3σ | 9/51 arcsec |
| High Frequency spatial (Pixel) error XY/Z @ 3σ | 6.6/37 arcsec |
| Temporal noise on XY/Z @ 3σ | 11/69 arcsec |
| Time from lost-in-space (typ) | < 4s |
| Slew rate in Acquisition | 0.3 deg/s |
| Slew rate in Tracking | Up to 3 deg/s² |
| Acceleration in Acquisition | Up to 1 deg/s² |
| Acceleration in Tracking at 10 Hz | Up to 2.5 deg/s² |
| Full Moon in the field of view | No performance degradation |
| Baffle Sun Exclusion Angle | 35 deg |
| Baffle Earth Exclusion Angle | 22 deg |
| Solar flare Acquisition/Tracking | Robust |
