SDS-4 Attitude Control System: In-Flight Results of Three Axis Attitude Control for Small Satellites

Abstract

The Small Demonstration Satellite (SDS) program is a JAXA technology demonstration program, targeting the in-orbit demonstration of advanced technologies using small satellites. Following the success of SDS-1, the SDS-4 spacecraft was successfully launched on 18 May 2012 and continues the in-flight demonstration of a space-based Automatic Identification System (AIS) as well as numerous flight experiments. This paper describes the in-flight results of the Attitude Control System (ACS) for 50kg class small satellites using 3-axis zero-momentum stabilization.