ESA GNC Conference Papers Repository

Robust Attitude Determination and Control Subsystem (ADCS) design is dependent upon numerous and often contradictory elements, especially in the absence of pre-selected hardware specifications or in the presence of very strict design completion deadlines. This paper focuses on the need for a rapid and efficient ADCS design process, and describes how this was achieved by the team of Tessella and Thales Alenia Space France (TAS-F). This approach was followed during the Phase B ADCS design of the Globalstar second-generation constellation, where a number of hardware and time limitations rendered the completion of this phase a particularly challenging task. From initiation of the contract program, well-proven mode designs were demonstrated for Preliminary Design Review (PDR) approximately 9 months later, with software specifications issued just 3 months after. This paper explores the key elements of the design approach that allowed a successful ADCS design meeting these constraints in this timeframe.