Propulsion system for satellite orbit control and attitude control

A propulsion system for orbit control of a satellite with terrestrial orbit having an angular momentum accumulation capacity, and for creation of torques contributing to controlling the angular momentum, the satellite being imbued with a velocity along an axis V that is tangential to the terrestrial orbit, the propulsion system comprising:

• a propulsion unit able to deliver a force along an axis F having a component perpendicular to the orbit;
• and
• a motorized mechanism connected between the propulsion unit and a structure of the satellite,
• wherein the motorized mechanism includes:
• a first motorized link connected to the structure of the satellite and configured to allow a rotation about an axis substantially perpendicular both to the axis V and to the axis F,
• a first rigid offset arm,
• a second motorized link configured to allow a rotation about an axis substantially perpendicular both to the axis V and to the axis F,
• a second rigid offset arm connected between the second motorized link and the propulsion unit, and
• the first motorized link, the first rigid offset arm, and the second motorized link being connected and positioned in series from the first motorized link to the second motorized link,
• wherein the first motorized link or the second motorized link is configured to allow a rotation about an axis substantially parallel to the axis V,
• wherein the motorized mechanism consists of three rotational degrees of freedom, two of the three rotational degrees of freedom being mutually parallel and separated by the first rigid offset arm,
• wherein the motorized mechanism is configured to displace the propulsion unit along the axis V parallel to the velocity of the satellite and orient the propulsion unit so as to make it possible to control:
• a component of the force along the axis V for orbit control, and
• an amplitude and a direction of couple in a plane perpendicular to the axis F for control of the angular momentum.