Shape reconstruction of planar flexible spacecraft structures using distributed sun sensors

Abstract Flexible planar spacecraft, such as solar sails, phased antenna arrays and space solar power satellites vary their shape in flight and also may not have a known shape after deployment. To allow applications where spacecraft shapes are measured to allow the closed-loop correction of flight or payload parameters, this paper presents a method for measuring shapes with miniature sun sensors embedded within the structure. Two algorithms to reconstruct the shape of the structure from the two local angles to the sun are presented; the first one is geometry-based, whereas the second one uses a finite element model of the structure. Both algorithms are validated on a 1.3 m × 0.25 m structure with 14 novel miniature sun sensors with an accuracy of 0 . 5 ∘ , developed for the present research. The structure was reconstructed to an accuracy better than one millimeter by both algorithms, after undergoing bending and torsional deformations. While the geometrically based algorithm is fast and accurate for small deformations, the finite element based algorithm performs better overall, especially for larger deformations.