Autonomous target acquisition for the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph

S. Ira Becker; Steven B. Kraemer; Randy A. Kimble

doi:10.1117/12.324538

28 August 1998 Autonomous target acquisition for the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph

S. Ira Becker, Steven B. Kraemer, Randy A. Kimble

Proceedings Volume 3356, Space Telescopes and Instruments V; (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.324538
Event: Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation, 1998, Kona, HI, United States

Abstract

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS), which was successfully installed into the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) in February 1997, has the capability to perform a powerful set of autonomous target acquisition functions. The STIS target acquisition capabilities have been tested during the initial commissioning of the instrument and are currently being used to acquire astronomical targets to support the HST Guest Observer program and the ongoing instrument calibration activities. STIS can perform several types of autonomous target acquisition sequences, all of which make use of the STIS instrument's imaging capabilities and are controlled by flight software executing out of the STIS control section microprocessor, an Intel 80386. The types of acquisitions include the location of point sources, the location of the brightest area in a diffuse or extended target, the location of point sources in crowded fields, and the centering of targets within any of the STIS spectroscopic slits. In order to move located targets into slits and center them there, the STIS control section flight software makes requests for HST pointing corrections, via special engineering telemetry sent to the HST main flight computer. The accuracy of the target acquisition tested in orbit has exceeded pre-flight specifications.

Citation Download Citation

S. Ira Becker, Steven B. Kraemer, and Randy A. Kimble "Autonomous target acquisition for the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph", Proc. SPIE 3356, Space Telescopes and Instruments V, (28 August 1998); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.324538

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available