The Attitude and Orbit Control Subsystem of the TV-SAT/TDF1 Spacecraft

Abstract The paper deals with the Attitude and Orbit Control Subsystem (AOCS) of the TV-SAT/TDF1 Spacecraft presently under development at Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm Company. The design is based on the control concepts established and developed at MBB for the INTELSAT V Spacecraft, which was first launched in 1980, three flight units presently being in successful operation. Apart from the different attitude measurement equipment used, the main design changes of TV-SAT/TDF1 AOCS as compared to INTELSAT V are imposed by - three axis stabilization in transfer orbit and during apogee manoeuvre - digital control concept and - antenna fine pointing with RFS sensing in addition to body coarse control