Geomagnetic field based orientation systems for balloon-borne astronomy payloads

Abstract

Very large and complex payloads for infrared, X-ray and gamma-ray astronomy are routinely flown on stratospheric balloons from remote locations in Australia. A prime requirement for these payloads is a pointing system operating to an accuracy of minutes of arc, to enable photon detectors to track astrophysical sources of interest. The geomagnetic field is used for the primary azimuth pointing and control of the payload. Details of a typical orientation system and its operation under remote control from the ground tracking station are described.