Star Tracker Attitude Sensor Kit with ESP32 + LED
Determine Spacecraft Attitude with Real Star Fields – The ESP32 Star Tracker Sensor Kit
Every part needed, pre-tested for compatibility, with an AI build companion trained on this exact project. Shipped from Bengaluru in 3-5 days.
You're prototyping a satellite payload or preparing a rocketry experiment—and you need to know the vehicle's orientation in the blackness of space. This kit lets you build a star tracker sensor that captures an image of the night sky with an ESP32-CAM, then runs dedicated Python star pattern recognition to return the precise quaternion (attitude) of your payload. No theoretical approximation; a real hardware + software chain you assemble and code.
What You'll Build
A fully functional star tracker attitude sensor that acquires star field images, timestamps them via an onboard RTC, stores the data on a microSD card for offline Python analysis, and displays live IMU orientation on its OLED. Once images are processed through the provided recognition pipeline, you receive a quaternion output—exactly the attitude representation used by real spacecraft avionics. Ideal for sounding rocket nose cones, high-altitude balloon payloads, or CubeSat ADCS prototyping.
What You'll Learn
- Acquire noise-free star field images using ESP32-CAM and buffered power stage
- Implement star centroid extraction and pattern matching using Python’s star identification algorithms (triad/angle method)
- Compute spacecraft attitude quaternion from star vectors via least-squares fitting
- Fuse IMU data with star tracker output in a quaternion-based attitude estimator
Kit Contents
| Component | Quantity |
|---|---|
| ESP32-CAM | x1 |
| FTDI Programmer | x1 |
| ICM-20948 IMU | x1 |
| DS3231 RTC | x1 |
| MicroSD Module | x1 |
| LM2596 Buck Converter | x1 |
| 0.96in OLED | x1 |
| 100nF Caps | x10 |
| PCB Prototype Board | x2 |
| 3.7V LiPo 2000mAh | x1 |
| TP4056 Module | x1 |
| Enclosure Box | x1 |
| Soldering Iron | x1 |
| Solder Wire | x1 |
Why Buy This Kit Instead of Sourcing Parts Separately
| Factor | Sourcing Separately | Compoden Kit |
|---|---|---|
| Compatibility checks | You verify every part | Pre-tested as a system |
| Build support | Forums and scattered tutorials | AI companion trained on this exact project |
| Time to first working build | Days of debugging | Hours, with step-by-step guidance |
| Shipping coordination | Multiple sellers, multiple delays | One shipment from Bengaluru in 3-5 days |
Who This Kit Is For
Built for M.Tech/B.Tech students specialising in aerospace, avionics, or embedded systems who need a reliable attitude determination hardware stack for CubeSat or sounding rocket projects. Equally suited to Smart India Hackathon teams developing star sensor payloads, IIT/NIT satellite club members iterating ADCS prototypes, or professionals testing high-altitude balloon orientation sensors. If your work demands actual star-derived quaternion output, this kit gives you the turnkey hardware starting point.
Built and Backed by Compoden
Every Compoden kit ships with an AI build companion trained on this exact project — accessible via a QR code on the box, with WhatsApp and email backup. We've spent 10 years building projects for makers, schools, and institutions across India. If a part fails because of a manufacturing defect, replace it free within 7 days.
What if I get stuck during the build?
Open the AI companion from the included QR code—it knows every connection and code module. For deeper issues, WhatsApp our Bengaluru support line; we respond within hours.
Do I need a separate lens for the ESP32-CAM to capture stars?
The stock lens works for bright stars, but for fainter magnitudes you can swap it with an M12 lens (not included). Our AI assistant guides you on focusing and exposure settings for star field capture.
How does the Python star pattern recognition work?
A provided Jupyter notebook runs centroid extraction, matches star triangles against a catalogue, and solves the Wahba problem to output the quaternion. It’s tuned for the noise characteristics of the ESP32-CAM and ICM-20948 IMU.
Can this kit fly on an actual rocket or high-altitude balloon?
Absolutely. The payload is powered by a LiPo and logs to microSD, making it fully self-contained for flight. Many teams use it in sounding rocket payloads and Pico balloon gondolas after vibration testing.
ESP32-CAM captures star field image. Python star pattern recognition returns spacecraft attitude quaternion.
What's in this kit
Choose your assembly option:
- Soldering Kit — 25W soldering iron, 60/40 solder wire, flux, and small perfboard for permanent assembly.
- Breadboard Combo — 800-point full-size breadboard with 65-piece jumper wire pack for solderless prototyping.
Other projects you can build
Shipping Information
- Prepaid Orders: ₹75 for orders up to ₹999, FREE shipping above ₹999
- COD Orders: ₹125 shipping + ₹50 COD fee = ₹175 total
- Delivery Timeline: Dispatch in 1-2 days, delivery in 2-7 days depending on location
Returns & Warranty
- 7-Day Return: Manufacturing defects only (approval required)
- Warranty: 7 days from delivery
- Non-Returnable: Batteries, consumables, cut wires, clearance items