Arranging a channel for monitoring the orientation toward the sun of the Solar Patrol apparatus
Abstract
This paper discusses the organization of a special supplementary channel in the UV spectrometer of the apparatus of the Solar Patrol space experiment, which is to be installed for experimental operation on the outer surface of the service module of the Russian segment of the International Space Station. It is assumed that the optical axes of the apparatus will be aimed at the center of the sun's disk by means of a solar-oriented platform to within ±1.8°. A channel will be created to estimate the correctness of the orientation of the device toward the sun, and its readings will be used when processing the data of the measurements of the main spectrophotometric channels of the UV spectrometer. It is proposed to use a photocathode mounted in zeroth order of the spectrum of the diffraction grating of the spectrometer as a detector. © 2005 Optical Society of America