Based on stellar refraction indirectly sensing of autonomous navigation for horizon star sensor, a parameter design is analyzed for stellar refraction star sensor which is included by detect waveband, observation field, detect probability and threshold value of magnitude. The field of view (FOV) of star sensor is divided into two parts of refraction star and unrefraction star. The FOV decreases as orbit attitude increases. Limited by atmosphere absorption, the waveband needs to be 600~900 nm, and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) decreases as atmosphere height increases. High sensitive back-thinned charge coupled device (CCD) is applied and athermalizing optical system design is achieved. The result shows that imaging quality is good enough and measure precision of single star sensor achieves 1″, which can meet the requirement of autonomous star sensor measure precision.