Stellar radiation modeling and image simulation for airborne daytime star sensor

Daytime star sensor is an attitude measurement instrument that satisfies navigation requirements of various near surface platforms (aircraft, missiles, ships, etc.) with the ability of operating diurnally under strong background radiation. As an important basis for studying star pattern identification algorithm, daytime star images usually can't be obtained in real-time. Software star image simulation is a quick and easy-to-implement approach for algorithm validation. This paper presents the airborne daytime star image simulation procedure in detail and establishes a sky background radiation and stellar radiation model with MODTRAN software. An example is provided to confirm the simulation method with given aircraft operational environment and star sensor parameters.