Source catalogue
Downloaded 21 PDFs and 4 HTML snapshots. Core works received detailed technical review; supporting works were consulted for the scope described below. The library is selective, not an exhaustive bibliography of all TESS science papers.
| Source | Use in this review | Local filename | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nguyen (2018), MIT PhD thesis | Core: Chapters 2–5; detailed guide selection, centroiding, validation, aberration and photometry. | nguyen_2018_thesis.pdf | 18.23 MB |
| Nguyen et al. (2018), Fine-pointing performance and corresponding photometric precision of TESS | Core: complete published fine-pointing algorithm and preflight performance assessment. | nguyen_2018_jatis.pdf | 4.04 MB |
| Vanderspek et al. (2018), TESS Instrument Handbook v0.1 | Core flight-era cross-check: §§8.2, 9.1, 9.3. | instrument_handbook_2018.pdf | 20.18 MB |
| Schlieder et al. (2017), TESS Observatory Guide v1.1 | Historical mission design, commissioning and operations context; superseded in places. | observatory_guide_2017.pdf | 3.00 MB |
| Jenkins et al. (2016), The TESS Science Processing Operations Center | Ground processing versus onboard control. | jenkins_2016_spoc.pdf | 0.83 MB |
| Twicken et al. (2020), Science Data Products Description, Rev F | Ground product definitions, local motion columns, time systems and flags. | data_products_rev_f_2020.pdf | 7.75 MB |
| Ricker et al., Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (arXiv 2014; JATIS 2015) | Mission design and instrument/spacecraft context; downloaded arXiv version. | ricker_2015_mission.pdf | 14.18 MB |
| Huang et al. (2018), Expected yields of planet discoveries from the TESS primary and extended missions | Related paper with Nguyen as coauthor; incorporates preflight jitter in yield predictions, not a separate ACS design. | huang_2018_yields.pdf | 4.77 MB |
| Fausnaugh et al. (2021), The TESS Mission Target Selection Procedure | Distinguishes science/PPA target selection from onboard fine-guidance selection. | fausnaugh_2021_target_selection.pdf | 2.85 MB |
| Woods et al. (2016), The TESS camera: modeling and measurements with deep depletion devices | Optical and detector-response models underlying centroid and photometry simulations. | woods_2016_camera.pdf | 0.95 MB |
| Vanderburg et al. (2019), TESS Spots a Compact System of Super-Earths around the Naked-Eye Star HR 858 | Flight demonstration: quaternion scatter, PSF width and photometric systematics; §2.1 and Figure 2. | vanderburg_2019_hr858.pdf | 3.03 MB |
| Sullivan et al. (2015), TESS: simulations of planet detections and astrophysical false positives | Photometric noise and mission-yield context behind requirements. | sullivan_2015_predictions.pdf | 4.27 MB |
| Gangestad et al. (2013 preprint), A High Earth, Lunar Resonant Orbit for Lower Cost Space Science Missions | Orbit context relevant to velocity aberration and observing geometry. | gangestad_2013_orbit.pdf | 1.84 MB |
| NASA/HEASARC, Condensed TESS Data Release Notes | Saved HTML snapshot for locating operational changes; individual PDFs used for exact cited examples. | flight_release_notes.html | 0.50 MB |
| MIT, Updated quality flags for QLP light curves (2025) | Product-dependent quality flag provenance. | qlp_quality_flags_2025.html | 0.14 MB |
| MAST TESS engineering index | Location of quaternion products; telemetry files themselves were not downloaded for this literature review. | engineering_index.html | 0.05 MB |
| MAST TESS data release-note index | Search inventory for operational source PDFs. | release_note_index.html | 0.01 MB |
| tess sector 01 drn01 v02 | Selected flight operations release note: pointing, guide-camera use and quality context. | tess_sector_01_drn01_v02.pdf | 5.15 MB |
| tess sector 03 drn04 v02 | Selected flight operations release note: pointing, guide-camera use and quality context. | tess_sector_03_drn04_v02.pdf | 1.04 MB |
| tess sector 04 drn05 v04 | Selected flight operations release note: pointing, guide-camera use and quality context. | tess_sector_04_drn05_v04.pdf | 1.66 MB |
| tess sector 10 drn14 v02 | Selected flight operations release note: pointing, guide-camera use and quality context. | tess_sector_10_drn14_v02.pdf | 1.27 MB |
| tess sector 12 drn17 v02 | Selected flight operations release note: pointing, guide-camera use and quality context. | tess_sector_12_drn17_v02.pdf | 1.63 MB |
| tess sector 38 drn55 v02 | Selected flight operations release note: pointing, guide-camera use and quality context. | tess_sector_38_drn55_v02.pdf | 2.03 MB |
| tess sector 66 drn92 v01 | Selected flight operations release note: pointing, guide-camera use and quality context. | tess_sector_66_drn92_v01.pdf | 9.36 MB |
| tess sector 104 drn142 v01 | Selected flight operations release note: pointing, guide-camera use and quality context. | tess_sector_104_drn142_v01.pdf | 1.62 MB |
Retrieval gaps
The 2019 Vanderspek conference slide deck was located but its host failed certificate verification. A 2025 Youngblood mission-update link returned HTML rather than a PDF. Neither is counted as downloaded or used as the basis of a quantitative conclusion. Internal requirements documents, Levine’s 2015 fitting memo, and the proprietary spacecraft simulator cited by Nguyen were not obtained.
Library provenance
Research root: /astro/armin/koji/syndiff/dev_runs/tess_pointing_review_20261015/. Original files are in papers/, text extractions in text/, hashes in sources.json. Links above point to upstream copies. The thesis and other restricted PDFs are not republished by this site.
Conclusion
The Nguyen thesis and JATIS paper are the central public design references; mission handbooks and sector release notes are needed to understand flight behavior and later changes.