The newly announced High-Performance Star Tracker (ST-HP) is engineered to maintain precise spacecraft positioning even in environments with elevated radiation levels. The system is targeting pointing accuracy better than one arcsecond, a level suited to missions where stability and precision are critical.
A key feature of the ST-HP is its enhanced radiation tolerance, with a board-level total ionising dose exceeding 50 krad. This is intended to ensure consistent attitude determination over extended mission lifetimes, helping spacecraft maintain stable orientation and reliable payload performance.
The product builds on Rocket Lab’s existing track record, with more than 185 star tracker units already deployed. The company said the new system combines that flight heritage with improved radiation hardening while remaining cost-effective and scalable for rapid production.
Rocket Lab USA president Brad Clevenger said the company is continuing to expand its end-to-end space systems offering in response to evolving customer requirements across commercial and government sectors.
He said the new tracker leverages decades of experience to deliver a more resilient capability without increasing cost, lead times or manufacturing risk.
The ST-HP forms part of Rocket Lab’s broader vertically integrated component portfolio, which includes reaction wheels, separation systems, communications equipment, flight and ground software, solar power systems and optical payloads.
Manufacturing is carried out across Rocket Lab’s global facilities in the United States, Canada, Germany and New Zealand. The company’s Toronto site, which specialises in star tracker production, includes advanced capabilities such as thermal testing chambers, vibration rigs, X-ray systems, optical calibration tools and clean-room environments supporting development through to qualification.
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