Abstract Spacecraft models that mimic the Planck satellite’s behaviour have produced information on cosmic microwave background radiation, assisting physicists in their understanding of the composition and expansion of the universe. For achieving the intended formation, a framework for a discrete fractional difference spacecraft model is constructed by the use of a discrete nabla operator of variable order containing the Mittag–Leffler kernel. The efficacy of the suggested framework is evaluated employing a numerical simulation of the concerning dynamic systems of motion while taking into account multiple considerations such as exterior disruptions, parameterized variations, time-varying feedback delays, and actuator defects. The implementation of the Banach fixed-point approach provides sufficient requirements for the presence of the solution as well as a distinctive feature for such mechanisms Furthermore, the consistent stability is examined. With the aid of discrete nabla operators, we monitor the qualitative behavioural patterns of spacecraft systems to provide justification for structure’s chaos. We acquire the fixed points of the proposed trajectory. At each fixed point, we calculate the eigenvalue of the spacecraft system’s Jacobian matrix and check for zones of instability. The outcomes exhibit a wide range of multifaceted behaviours resulting from the interaction with various fractional orders in the offered system. To maintain stability and synchronize the system, nonlinear controllers are additionally provided. The study highlights the technique’s vulnerability to fractional-order factors, resulting in exclusive, changing trends and equilibrium frameworks. Because of its diverse and convoluted behaviour, the spacecraft chaotic model is an intriguing and crucial subject for research.