Beltran Nadal ArribasMaia, João G.Castanheira, João Pedro ConceiçãoFilho, Joel Alves CostaMelício, RuiGordo, Paulo Romeu SeabraOnderwater, HugoDuarte, RuiSilva, André Resende Rodrigues da2025-12-292025-12-292025-07-15Arribas, B.N.; Maia, J.G.; Castanheira, J.P.; Filho, J.; Melicio, R.; Onderwater, H.; Gordo, P.; Duarte, R.P.; Silva, A.R.R. Dual-Purpose Star Tracker and Space Debris Detector: Miniature Instrument for Small Satellites. J. Sens. Actuator Netw. 2025, 14, 75. https://doi.org/10.3390/jsan140400752224-2708http://hdl.handle.net/10400.6/19629This paper presents the conception, design and real miniature instrument implementation of a dual-purpose sensor for small satellites that can act as a star tracker and space debris detector. In the previous research work, the authors conceived, designed and implemented a breadboard consisting of a computer laptop, a camera interface and camera controller, an image sensor, an optics system, a temperature sensor and a temperature controller. It showed that the instrument was feasible. In this paper, a new real star tracker miniature instrument is designed, physically realized and tested. The implementation follows a New Space approach; it is made with Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) components with space heritage. The instrument’s development, implementation and testing are presented.engMiniature InstrumentStar Tracker SensorSpace Debris DetectorSmall SatellitesImage SensorMicroprocessorArchitectureParallel Interfacecontribution to journal10.3390/jsan14040075