Large Moment Arm Propulsive Attitude Control System

Composite Technology Development, Inc. proposes to develop and demonstrate a unique and innovative large moment arm propulsive Attitude Control System (ACS) for small satellites, incorporating an Elastic Memory Composite deployable boom with amicro-propulsion thruster at its tip. The proposed Phase I effort will develop this innovative ACS system concept and demonstrate the feasibility of a key element of the deployable boom through design, fabrication and testing. Small satellites canrealize significant mass savings through the use of a propulsion-based attitude control system in place of traditional torque rods and reaction wheels. The proposed approach, with small thrusters located at the end of a long moment arm, can reduce the ACSmass requirement by up to 90 percent for a 150-kg class satellite. The proposed technology will be applicable to a large number of small satellite missions of interest to DoD, academia, and industry.