Anti-twist joint, orienting system and method

A satellite comprising:

• a housing;
• an orientable payload;
• and
• an anti-twist joint coupled between the orientable payload and the housing,
• wherein the anti-twist joint further comprises:
• a base rigidly coupled to the housing;
• a rotating member rotatably mounted to the base such that the rotating member rotates about a first axis;
• a pivoting member pivotably mounted to the rotating member such that the pivoting member pivots about a second axis;
• an anti-twist member rotatably mounted to the pivoting member and rigidly coupled to the orientable payload;
• and
• a coupling apparatus that rotationally couples the anti-twist member and the orientable payload to the base such that a rotational orientation of the anti-twist member and the orientable payload relative to the base and the satellite housing remains constant regardless of a rotational orientation or a pivoting orientation of the pivoting member relative to the base.

A method of positioning a payload relative to a base comprising the steps of:

• providing an apparatus having:
• a base;
• a rotating member rotatably mounted to the base such that the rotating member rotates about a first axis;
• a pivoting member pivotably mounted to the rotating member such that the pivoting member pivots about a second axis;
• an anti-twist member rotatably mounted to the pivoting member and rigidly coupled to an orientable payload;
• and
• a coupling apparatus that rotationally couples the anti-twist member and the orientable payload to the base such that a rotational orientation of the anti-twist member and the orientable payload relative to the base remains constant regardless of a rotational orientation or a pivoting orientation of the pivoting member relative to the base;
• rotating the payload of the apparatus about the first axis to a desired orientation relative to the base;
• and
• pivoting the payload about the second axis to a desired orientation relative to the base.