Attitude Control System of the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe

Abstract

The Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe mission produces a map of the cosmic microwave background radiation over the entire celestial sphere by executing a fast spin and a slow precession of its spin axis about the sun line to obtain a highly interconnected set of measurements. The attitude control system implements this spin-scan observing strategy while minimizing thermal and magnetic fluctuations, especially those synchronous with the spin period. The spacecraft attitude is sensed and controlled using an inertial reference unit, 2 star trackers, a dual-head digital sun sensor, 12 coarse sun sensors, 3 reaction wheel assemblies, and a propulsion system. Sufficient attitude knowledge is provided to yield instrument pointing to a standard deviation (1σ) of 1.3 arc-min per axis. The attitude control system also maintains the spacecraft attitude during orbit maneuvers, controls the spacecraft angular momentum, and provides for safety in the event of an anomaly. An overview of the design of the attitude control system to carry out this mission is presented, as well as some early flight experience.