A pointing control system is developed for the Gamma-Ray Imager/Polarimeter for Solar flares (GRIPS) balloon-borne instrument which provides a near-optimal combination of high-resolution imaging, spectroscopy, and polarimetry of solar-flare gamma-ray/hard X-ray emissions from ∼20 keV to ∼10 MeV. Within the narrow field of view of its sun sensor, the telescope must track the sun with a 0.5 degrees rms accuracy. This paper introduces the mechanical structure of the pointing control system and investigates the dynamics and control strategy and presents the simulation and experimental results.

Volume Subject Area:
Aerospace Control Applications
Topics:
Control equipment, Control systems, Design, Dynamic analysis, Gamma rays, Polariscopes, Solar flares, Dynamics (Mechanics), Emissions, Imaging, Instrumentation, Mechanical structures, Polarimetry, Resolution (Optics), Sensors, Simulation, Spectroscopy, Telescopes, X-rays
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