High-stability Shuttle pointing system

Abstract

It was recognized that precision pointing provided by the Orbiter's attitude control system would not be good enough for Shuttle payload scientific experiments or certain Defense department payloads. The Annular Suspension Pointing System (ASPS) is being developed to satisfy these more exacting pointing requirements. The ASPS is a modular pointing system which consists of two principal parts, including an ASPS Gimbal System (AGS) which provides three conventional ball-bearing gimbals and an ASPS Vernier System (AVS) which magnetically isolates the payload. AGS performance requirements are discussed and an AGS system description is given. The overall AGS system consists of the mechanical hardware, sensors, electronics, and software. Attention is also given to system simulation and performance prediction, and support facilities.