Precision thrust/sun tracking attitude control system for gimbaled thruster

A system for providing precision thrust and sun tracking attitude control, comprising:

• control logic configured to determine a proximity region;
• and
• control logic configured to engage an ideal operational mode to provide attitude control when a thrust trajectory vector is out of the proximity region or a predictive operational mode to provide attitude control when the thrust trajectory vector is in the proximity region,
• wherein, the predictive operational mode predicts the orientation of the thrust trajectory vector at an exit from the proximity region and adjusts the attitude control based on the predicted orientation of the thrust trajectory vector.

A spacecraft comprising:

• a plurality of sensors;
• a plurality of actuators including a plurality of reaction wheel assemblies, a plurality of gimbaled thrusters and a plurality of solar arrays;
• a processor having flight control logic residing thereon;
• wherein the flight control logic is configured to:
• receive input information from the plurality of sensors;
• determine a proximity region based on the input information;
• and
• engage a first operational mode to provide attitude control with respect to the plurality of actuators when a thrust trajectory vector is out of the proximity region or a second operational mode to provide attitude control with respect to the plurality of actuators when the thrust trajectory vector is in the proximity region,
• wherein, the second operational mode predicts the orientation of the thrust trajectory vector at an exit from the proximity region and adjusts the attitude control based on the predicted orientation of the thrust trajectory vector.

A method for providing precision thrust and sun tracking attitude control, comprising:

• determining an angle between a thrust trajectory vector and a sun vector;
• and
• engaging an ideal operational mode to provide attitude control when the angle between the thrust trajectory vector and the sun vector exceeds a threshold value or a predictive operational mode to provide attitude control when the angle between the thrust trajectory vector and the sun vector is below the threshold value,
• wherein, the predictive operational mode predicts the orientation of the thrust trajectory vector at a proximity region exit and adjusts the attitude control based on the predicted orientation of the thrust trajectory vector.

A method for controlling thrust and sun tracking attitude with respect to a spacecraft having a plurality of sensors and a plurality of actuators including a plurality of gimbaled thrusters and a plurality of solar arrays, the method comprising:

• receiving input information from the plurality of sensors;
• determining a proximity region based on the input information;
• and
• engaging a first operational mode to provide attitude control with respect to the plurality of actuators when a thrust trajectory vector is out of the proximity region or a second operational mode to provide attitude control with respect to the plurality of actuators when the thrust trajectory vector is in the proximity region,
• wherein, the second operational mode predicts the orientation of the thrust trajectory vector at an exit from the proximity region and adjusts the attitude control based on the predicted orientation of the thrust trajectory vector.