Influence analysis of sensors' measurement datum error on satellite attitude determination accuracy

Star sensors and gyros are widely used in satellite attitude determination system. Datum error, induced by using these sensors, has great influence on the accuracy of attitude determination. To analyze this influence, we first construct sensors' measurement model with datum error in this paper. Then, the influences caused by star sensors' and gyros' datum errors are analyzed by employing minimum variance estimation principle. Finally, the permissible datum errors' ranges are determined by simulation. Experimental results show that star sensors' datum error has significant influence on attitude determination accuracy. Influence of gyros' datum error, however, has relatively smaller effect, especially when the datum error of gyros' is within the predetermined range.