METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE GUIDANCE OF ATTITUDE OF A SATELLITE, SATELLITE, PLURALITIES OF SATELLITES, AND ASSOCIATED COMPUTER PROGRAMME

摘要

Disclosed is a method for controlling the attitude guidance of a satellite with respect to an orbital reference system including a velocity axis, an orbital axis, and a Nadir axis; the satellite moving in the direction of the velocity axis, the satellite including an optical instrument having an observation axis, a solar generator defining a functional surface having a normal, an attitude control device, and a control unit. The method includes a step (104) of transmitting guidance commands so as to direct the observation axis of the optical instrument towards regions to be imaged or to orient the normal to the functional surface in the direction of the solar radiation. The guidance commands are commands to rotate the satellite about the velocity axis only, the angle of rotation about the orbital axis and Nadir axis within the orbital reference system being kept substantially at zero.