Reducing the negative effects of flywheel disturbance on space camera image quality using the vibration isolation method

Although the performance of space cameras has largely improved, the micro vibration from flywheel disturbances still significantly affects the image quality of these cameras. This study adopted a passive isolation method to reduce the negative effect of flywheel disturbance on image quality. A metal-rubber shock absorber was designed and installed in a real satellite. A finite element model of an entire satellite was constructed, and a transient analysis was conducted afterward. The change in the modulate transfer function was detected using ray tracing and optical transfer function formulas. Experiments based on real products were performed to validate the influence of the metal-rubber shock absorber. The experimental results confirmed the simulation results by showing that the negative effects of flywheel disturbance on the image quality of space cameras can be diminished significantly using the vibration isolation method.