Attitude correction of disturbances relative to a spacecraft attitude sensor

A system for controlling the attitude of a spacecraft, or a payload on the spacecraft, comprising:

• a spacecraft attitude measurement sensor for measuring the attitude of the spacecraft;
• a remote attitude measurement sensor disposed on a platform that is not stable with respect to the spacecraft attitude sensor for measuring relative attitude errors between the spacecraft and the payload;
• and
• a controller coupled to the remote attitude measurement sensor for processing measurements made thereby to generate control signals that selectively control the pointing direction of the spacecraft or payload.

A system for controlling the attitude of a spacecraft, or a payload on the spacecraft, comprising:

• a spacecraft attitude measurement sensor for measuring the attitude of the spacecraft;
• a plurality of remote attitude measurement sensors for respectively measuring the attitude of the payload and the attitude of the spacecraft attitude sensor, which plurality of remote attitude measurement sensors are coupled together;
• and
• a controller coupled to the spacecraft attitude measurement sensor and the plurality of remote attitude measurement sensors for processing measurements made 10 thereby to generate control signals that selectively control the pointing direction of the spacecraft or payload.

A method for controlling the attitude of a spacecraft, or a payload on the spacecraft, comprising the steps of:

• measuring the attitude of the spacecraft;
• measuring relative attitude errors between the spacecraft and the payload;
• and
• processing the measurements to generate control signals that selectively control the pointing direction of the spacecraft or payload.