Star Image Simulation for Starlight Refraction Sensor

The indirectly sensing horizon technique of starlight refraction utilizes star sensors to detect refracted starlight under the Earth's atmospheric limb background to achieve high precision attitude and position measurement of satellites. As star images usually can't be obtained in real time, software star image simulation is a quick and easy to implement approach for star identification algorithm validation. This paper firstly introduces the basic theory of starlight atmospheric refraction navigation. Then the atmospheric limb background radiation model and stellar radiation model of starlight refraction sensor are established. On this basis, the process of refraction star image simulation is discussed in detail. According to the given star sensor parameters and simulated radiation data, an example of refraction star image simulation is realized and the offset image coordinates of the refracted stars are analyzed for verification.