The NewSpace NSGY-001 Stellar Gyro can be used to propagate a spacecraft's attitude from a known initial condition, without drift, while sufficient stars are common across frames. The image-based rotation estimates can complement a set of MEMS rate gyroscopes to maintain a high accuracy attitude estimate at low angular rates (where MEMS gyroscope drift is most severe).

The NewSpace stellar gyroscope uses a COTS sensor and optics resulting in a low-cost attitude determination system that maintains accuracy during the eclipse phase. It can achieve this by using algorithms that tolerate noise and does not require a star database. It is thus far more robust against radiation damage than a standard star mapper solution would be if based on the same components.

The Stellar Gyro has passed through qualification testing and is due for first launch in 2020.

Key features of the NSS stellar gyroscope include:

• Active pixel CMOS detector
• Small size and low mass
• No baffle required
• Low power
• Simple to interface
• Immune to Moon and Earth in FoV

The NSS stellar gyroscope can be used in the following applications:

• High performance 3-axis rate sensor
• Full sky sensor for agile satellites