A structure for changing the attitude of a spacecraft is provided including an elongated member and a plurality of actuators coupled to the elongated member. The elongated member is coupled to the spacecraft. The elongated member has a length and an angular position relative to an axis. The plurality of actuators are configured to deflect the angular position of the elongated member relative to the axis and to alter the length of the elongated member.

A structure for changing the attitude of a spacecraft is provided including an elongated member and a plurality of actuators coupled to the elongated member. The elongated member is coupled to the spacecraft. The elongated member has a length and an angular position relative to an axis. The plurality of actuators are configured to deflect the angular position of the elongated member relative to the axis and to alter the length of the elongated member.

A device for determining an attitude of a satellite is disclosed, the satellite having an attitude control system comprising a gyroscopic actuator including a flywheel mounted so as to be rotatable around an axis of rotation and carried by a gimbal articulated to rotate around an axis of rotation. The device includes an attitude sensor configured to measure the attitude of the satellite, a position sensor configured to measure the angular position of the gimbal around its axis of rotation, a speed sensor configured to measure the rotational speed of the flywheel, and a processing circuit configured to determine the attitude of the satellite by using the measurement of the angular position of the gimbal, the measurement of the rotational speed of the flywheel, and the measurement of the attitude of the satellite.

A spacecraft has a flat antenna array having an edge and a middle portion. A reconfigurable reaction-momentum wheel is coupled to the antenna array to roll and/or pitch the antenna array in small magnitudes. The reconfigurable reaction-momentum has a reaction operating state or mode (high-torque, low momentum) and a momentum operating state or mode (low-torque, high momentum). A thruster is coupled to the antenna array to move the antenna array.

Systems and method for controlling the attitude maneuvers of a spacecraft in space are provided. The method automatically generates optimal trajectories in real-time to guide a spacecraft, providing a much more robust and efficient method than predefined trajectories, to model errors or disturbances. These methods do not rely in predefined trajectories and their associated feed-forward term. The systems comprise sensors, attitude control mechanisms, and a control module to orient the spacecraft in real-time, such that the spacecraft reaches a desired target attitude following an optimal path in the state space and is locally and asymptotically stable.

Systems and method for controlling the attitude maneuvers of a spacecraft in space are provided. The method automatically generates optimal trajectories in real-time to guide a spacecraft, providing a much more robust and efficient method than predefined trajectories, to model errors or disturbances. These methods do not rely in predefined trajectories and their associated feed-forward term. The systems comprise sensors, attitude control mechanisms, and a control module to orient the spacecraft in real-time, such that the spacecraft reaches a desired target attitude following an optimal path in the state space and is locally and asymptotically stable.

A novel cooling system for a superconducting electromagnet (740) that is suitable for use in satellite (700), or at least one or more components of the electromagnet (740) is disclosed. A satellite (700) and electromagnetic control system (705) for position control of such a satellite (700) are also disclosed. In one embodiment, the superconducting magnet control system (705) comprises at least one superconducting electromagnet (740) with at least one cooling element and at least one cryocooler (735). The cryocooler (735) is thermally coupled with the cooling element thereby enabling cooling of the superconducting electromagnet (740) or at least one or more components thereof through the cooling element solely by conduction cooling.

Systems and methods are described for a satellite control system that exhibits improved stability and increased efficiency by implementing a non-linear dynamic inversion inner-loop control algorithm coupled with an eigen vector outer-loop control algorithm. Thus, the attitude determination and control system (ADACS) may operate using commands to rotate directly about an eigen vector. Additionally, the outer-loop control system includes a feed-forward control element to enhance pointing accuracy when tracking moving targets.

A control system for reducing disturbance torque of a spacecraft is disclosed. The spacecraft revolves around a celestial body surrounded by an atmosphere. The control system includes processors in electronic communication with one or more actuators and a memory. The memory stores data into a database and program code that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the control system to instruct the spacecraft to enter a safing mode. In response to entering the safing mode, the control system instructs the one or more actuators to align a principal axis of the spacecraft with a vector that is normal to the orbit around the celestial body. The control system also instructs the actuators to rotate the spacecraft about the principal axis, where a rotational orientation of the spacecraft relative to the celestial body is shifted by about one-half a rotation about the principal axis.

In an example embodiment, an attitude, orbit, and de-orbit control system (AODCS) for a satellite is provided. In an example embodiment, the AODCS system comprises one or more selectively retractable booms. The one or more selectively retractable booms are collectively configured to provide a selectively adjustable drag during de-orbiting of a satellite over a predefined de-orbiting time.