Iran-Made Sun Sensors Used in Home-Made Satellites
“These sensors are able to calculate the direction of the sun's position vector in a coordinate system compatible with their body. The sun's position information extracted from the solar sensor can be used for orientation in the satellite status control process,” Saeed Khan Kalantari, a faculty member of Khajeh Nasir University and a technologist of a knowledge-based company.
“The variety of solar sensors, from very high accuracy to normal accuracy, with different power consumption and dimensions, has led to sun sensors being considered for a wide range of space applications, which have consequently become an inseparable component in the satellite ADCS process,” he added.
“Due to the performance of these sensors, all satellites designed in Iran have used these sensors, including Noor 1 and Noor 2, Chamran, Fajr, Kowsar, and Hodhod satellites. Sun sensors use the position of the sun to determine the position of the satellite,” Khan Kalantari said.
Sun sensors are navigation instruments that are used in space to establish the direction and position of the sun in relation with the satellite or spacecraft. In the aerospace sector they are mainly used to monitor attitude, to guide the orientation of solar panels and other functions.
These devices are used to determine attitude in space, providing data about the orientation of the satellite in relation with the solar vector, which is the angle at which the sun rays reach the satellite or spacecraft.
Sun sensors work by allowing light to enter through a small window (which may be of varying shapes and sizes) in the top of the sensor device, which consists of several or many photosensitive units.
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