Discussion

Abstract

This chapter provides a subjective discussion of the state of the art in attitude determination and control and identifies specific problems and areas in which information or further development would be valuable. The major changes that will effect future mission profiles were described in Section 1.1. The most important of these are increased spacecraft autonomy and launch via the Space Shuttle, which will substantially increase the volume of space activity and somewhat reduce costs. (Sixty shuttle launches per year are anticipated from 1984 onward.) In addition, accuracy requirements are becoming increasingly stringent, as illustrated in Fig. 22–1. Thus, the major requirements for the 1980s are to handle increased data volume and to obtain greater accuracy at reduced costs.