Spacecraft attitude control system with pulse-modulated jet thrusters

摘要

A method for controlling the direction of a spacecraft (10), of the type having a controller (16) for calculating thrust forces. The method comprises the use of a plurality of thrusters (1, 2, 3, 4) disposed on the spacecraft in a spaced relationship relative to one another and aligning and locating each of the plurality of thrusters at a predetermined angle on the spacecraft relative to first, second and third orthogonally oriented axes (X, Y, Z) such that the firing of any given pair of thrusters (1, 2, 3, 4) produces a torque about one of the spacecraft axes (X, Y, Z).