NASA established the Small Explorer (SNMX) program in 1988 to provide frequent opportunities for highly focused and relatively inexpensive space science missions. NASA has recently developed a prototype for the next generation Small Explorer spacecraft (SMEX-Lite). This paper describes the object-oriented design (OOD) of the SMEX-Lite Attitude Control System (ACS) software. The SMEX-Lite ACS is three-axis controlled and is capable of performing sub-arc-minute pointing. This paper first describes high level requirements governing the SMEX-Lite ACS software architecture. Next, the context in which the software resides is explained. The paper describes the principles of encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism with respect to the implementation of an ACS software system. This paper also discusses the design of several ACS software components. Specifically, object-oriented designs are presented for sensor data processing, attitude determination, attitude control, and failure detection. Finally, this paper addresses the establishment of the ACS Foundation Class (AFC) Library. The AFC is a large software repository, requiring a minimal amount of code modifications to produce ACS software for future projects.
Implementation of Satellite Attitude Control System Software Using Object Oriented Design
1998
13 pages
Report
No indication
English
Unmanned Spacecraft , Spacecraft Trajectories & Flight Mechanics , Navigation & Guidance System Components , Satellite attitude control , Attitude control , Computer programs , Explorer satellites , Object-oriented programming , Polymorphism , Data processing , Encapsulating , Launching , Low cost , Space missions
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