Stellar correction pointing model based on line-of-sight attitude measurements for optical communication telescopes on motion platforms

Optical communication telescopes (OCTs) on motion platforms are essential for the establishment of global-scale optical communication networks. OCTs with high pointing accuracy can reduce acquisition time and increase acquisition probability. The pointing accuracy of OCTs is influenced by mechanical structure errors, structural wobble errors, and attitude measurement errors. Existing pointing error correction models for OCTs on motion platforms have limitations in addressing these errors. In this paper, we propose an innovative, to our knowledge, stellar correction pointing model based on line-of-sight (LOS) attitude measurements on motion platforms to improve the pointing accuracy. Initially, the stellar correction model compensates for the attitude measurement errors. Then, guide angles are calculated using the LOS attitude, which eliminates the mechanical structure errors and the structural wobble errors. To validate the effectiveness of the model, we built an OCT system on a motion platform and conducted star pointing experiments. The experimental results show that, compared with the existing model, our model reduces the pointing error by 37.2%, from 24.5 to 15.37 arcsec RMS. Therefore, the stellar correction pointing model based on the LOS attitude measurements is an effective method for improving the pointing accuracy of OCTs on motion platforms.