On-orbit attitude planning for Earth observation imaging with star-based geometric calibration

To improve the quality of remote sensing images, a novel on-orbit attitude planning method for Earth observation imaging with star-based geometric calibration is presented in this study. Unlike traditional imaging processes, the proposed method includes both pre-calibration and post-calibration stages to enhance the accuracy of satellite geometric positioning. A multiple-constraint attitude planning algorithm was developed to ensure star-based calibration, wherein the satellite camera and star sensors simultaneously capture the images of stars. This integration of cameras and multiple star sensors enables effective attitude determination. During the Earth imaging stage, a fast on-orbit attitude planning algorithm was developed to determine the satellite attitude and the optimal imaging times for ground targets. Compared with existing methods, the fast on-orbit attitude planning algorithm can significantly reduce computational time and resource consumption via initial value selection and filtering.Simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed attitude planning method, which was successfully applied to Wuhan 1 satellite.