Algorithm for Determining Solar Aspect from Images Generated by the HEROES Mission

The goal of the High Energy Replicated Optics to Explore the Sun (HEROES) mission was to adapt an existing balloon payload, known as High Energy Replicated Optics (HERO), for solar observation. HERO used an on-axis star camera for fine aspect sensing, but this camera was too sensitive to be used when pointed near or toward the Sun. The pitch and yaw aspect system (PYAS) replaced the star camera during solar pointing. The PYAS used a computer vision algorithm to generate aspect solutions based on observations of a carefully constructed scene.