Guiding of a balloon-borne coronagraph

Area of Science:

• Astronomy and Astrophysics
• Optical Engineering
• Aerospace Technology

Background:

• Balloon-borne platforms offer unique advantages for solar observation due to reduced atmospheric interference.
• Infrared coronagraphy requires precise pointing for detailed solar atmosphere studies.
• Previous pointing systems faced challenges in stability and accuracy at high altitudes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the sun acquisition and tracking capabilities of a pointing control system for a balloon-borne infrared coronagraph.
• To evaluate the pointing precision achievable with a three-axis stabilization system at an altitude of 36 km.
• To demonstrate the feasibility of high-precision solar observation from stratospheric platforms.

Main Methods:

• Development and implementation of a three-axis stabilization system for a balloon-borne platform.
• Integration of a sun acquisition and tracking algorithm within the pointing control system.
• Operational testing of the coronagraph system at an altitude of 36 km.

Main Results:

• Successful acquisition and continuous tracking of the sun were achieved.
• The pointing control system demonstrated a precision of +/-10 arcseconds.
• The system maintained stable operation throughout the observation period at high altitude.

Conclusions:

• The described pointing control system is effective for high-precision solar observation using balloon-borne infrared coronagraphs.
• The achieved pointing accuracy meets the stringent requirements for detailed studies of the solar atmosphere.
• This technology enables advanced solar research from stratospheric platforms.