High-Precision Pointing and Tracking System Design for Near-Space Balloon-Based Optical Observation

Near-space high-altitude balloon-based platforms have a series of advantages and provide superior conditions for optical observation. In order to ensure the stability of the optical axis of the optical detection load and stable tracking of the target, a near-space high-altitude balloon-based high-precision pointing and tracking system was designed, which can compensate for changes in the pitch angle and azimuth angle of the platform during flight. The system includes a primary platform stable pointing system and a secondary precise tracking system. In the finished flight experiment, the primary platform pointing system and secondary precise tracking system on the balloon-based observation platform worked normally, providing a guarantee for the coronagraph’s stable tracking and detection of the sun. The primary platform pointing system can realize ±1° pointing accuracy, and the simulated accuracy of the secondary precise tracking system is 4″, which guaranteed that the coronagraph obtained more than 20,000 images. In subsequent works, we will upgrade and optimize the whole system and conduct our next flight experiment in the future.