Attitude control methods and systems for multiple-payload spacecraft

摘要

Attitude determination and control systems are provided that combine attitude measurements from all spacecraft payloads to determine a master attitude estimate for a master payload and relative slave attitude estimates for the remaining slave payloads. These estimates are then used to control the attitudes of spacecraft elements that correct the absolute and relative attitude errors. These systems significantly enhance attitude accuracy when compared to systems that realize independent payload estimates, determine payload attitudes. These systems also provide significant processing advantages (e.g., simpler algorithms, reduced data throughput and slower processing rate).