Abstract

The Space Telescope is designed as a free-flying spacecraft to be deployed using the space shuttle. The pointing control system provides target-to-target maneuvering capability and precision pointing on the target star to support scientific objectives. Spacecraft attitude control is achieved by onboard computer processing of attitude and rate sensor data to generate reaction wheel torque commands. In support of the pointing control system, a momentum management control system is provided to desaturate the reaction wheels. The paper discusses the pointing control system with emphasis on top level requirements, a description of the control system, user control methods, development testing and control hardware investigations and improvements.

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