Method and apparatus for optical nutation sensing

Details Method and apparatus for optical nutation sensing Method and apparatus for optical nutation sensing

G - Physics

01

P

354/18, 73/53

G01P 3/36 (2006.01) G01C 19/72 (2006.01)

Patent

CA 1270564

ABSTRACT An optical nutation sensing method and apparatus is provided which is functional at low spin rates and during thruster firings while being relatively insensitive to spacecraft flexures. The advantageous operation of the present invention is afforded by provision of first and second beams of coherent light energy in opposite directions into a coil (22) of optic fiber or other suitable means for restraining the path thereof. The coil (22) lies in a plane normal to the transverse annular momentum vector. The beams are combined at the output ends of the coil (22) in such a way as to create an interference pattern which varies as the satellites nutates. The variation in the interference pattern is detected by photodetector circuitry (30) to provide an output signal representative of the nutation.

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