AN ODD COUPLE; DESIGNING A COMMON ACMS FOR TWO VERY DIFFERENT SPACECRAFT

摘要

ESA has commissioned the joint development of two scientific satellites, Herschel and Planck, as part of the Horizon 2000 Scientific Program. The uniqueness of this project is that both satellites - though very different - are being developed jointly at several levels. Alcatel Space is Prime for both satellites, and manages the scientific instruments interfaces. Alenia Spazio is overall Service Module Responsible. A joint team of Dutch Space (prime), Sener Ingeneria Y Sistemas, and Analyticon Limited has recently been awarded a contract to develop the Attitude Control and Measurement System [ACMS] for both satellites. The challenge in designing the ACMS is that both satellites have very different scientific objectives and requirements on the attitude control system. This paper will focus on the means to achieve as much commonality as possible between the two ACMS designs, despite their differences.