Star Tracker

Overview

This GitHub contains the Star Tracker (ST) development for SUCHAI 2 - 3. SUCHAI-1 is the first NanoSatellite developed by Universidad de Chile, at the Space and Planetary Exploration Laboratory (SPEL). Launched on June 23 (2017), the satellite is currently operational. Actually, we are working on two more NanoSatellites, the SUCHAI 2 & 3.
More info about the SUCHAI proyect.

Description

• This is a fully functional Star Tracker that you can try on a Linux PC. Nevertheless, the main idea is to use it with a Raspberry Pi and its camera in an autonomously way.
  
• This code is written in Python. All the code and the necessary files are in the RPI folder.
  
• This Git-Hub is free and open to everyone interested in using it, especially researchers working on CubeSats!.
  

Installation instructions

1. This ST code is based on two open softwares usually used in Astronomy: Source Extractor and Match. In order to use this program, you need to install this two software first.
   1.1.- Get and install Source Extractor. You can find this program in the Linux (RPI) repository, and install it by typing:
   

_sudo apt-get install sextractor_

We use __version 2.19.5__ in our program.
1.2.- Get and install [Match](http://spiff.rit.edu/match/). We use __version 0.14__ in our program.

3. Finally, clone this repository in any folder on your RPI, for example: /home/pi/Desktop/Git/ST/

Running instructions

To use it with Raspberry Pi pictures

3. Run in Python the file StarTracker_10deg.py . By default, it will use a picture from /RPI/Sample_Images/. Also, you can test it with other pictures, or use your own pictures taked with your RPI Camera.

To use it with STEREO pictures

Any questions?

Contact: Samuel Gutiérrez Russell.
PhD student in Electrical Engineering at Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
e-mail: [email protected]

README updated August 31, 2018 by SGR.