Planetary spacecraft pointing and control - The next 20 years

Abstract

Pointing and control systems recommended for NASA planetary exploration missions of the next twenty years are discussed. The functional and operational requirements and design constraints imposed on the driving control system by the mission and science goals of the spacecraft are examined. Criteria for the selection of a pointing and control system type (spin, dual-spin, three-axis active or momentum bias) are outlined, including payload functional characteristics, orbital characteristics, vehicle configuration and mission duration, and candidate system types proposed for preliminary survey, detailed remote observation, deep space close scrutiny, near-sun close scrutiny and sample return missions are indicated. Trends in control system design are discussed, and key enabling technology areas that will require additional or new development are considered, with particular emphasis on laser and fiber optics gyros, CCD arrays and DMA signal/power transmission, bearings and motor technologies, directed at three-axis active and dual-spin implementations.