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    ESA > Our Activities > Observing the Earth > The Living Planet Programme > Meteorological missions > MetOp

    Service Module attitude and orbit control (including propulsion)

    The attitude and orbit control (including propulsion)

    The Attitude and Orbit Control Subsystem (AOCS) is in charge of:

    • automatic 3-axis control of the satellite attitude
    • orbit control for which the needed thrust impulses are provided by the propulsion subsystem
    • management of the propulsion subsystem
    • automatic 1-axis control of the solar array orientation
    • orienting the solar array towards the Sun in case of electrical anomaly
    • providing ancillary attitude data to the Payload Module

    The AOCS architecture is composed of four main assemblies:

    • attitude measurement assembly comprising:
      • digital Earth sensors (STD) for roll and pitch
      • sun sensors (SSD) for yaw
      • four independent two-axis gyros (two being in cold redundancy)
    • wheels and magnetotorquers assembly comprising:
      • three 40 Nms reaction wheels (RW)
      • two magnetotorquers (MAC) able to generate a 315 Am2 magnetic moment
      • the associated monitoring and command unit (EAIM)
    • propulsion and solar array drive mechanism assembly:

      • the propulsion subsystem works in blow-down mode and it includes four pressurised tanks containing 300 kg of Hydrazine
      • two branches of eight 23.5 N (initial inlet pressure of 22 bar) thrusters located on the SVM
      • four latch valves, pressure transducers, fuel and gas valves for the propellant/pressurant loading/off-loading and pressurising/venting.

      This assembly also includes the solar array drive mechanism (SADM) and the propulsion drive electronics (EPRM).

    • safe mode assembly comprising:
      • the safe mode dedicated electronics unit (T4S)
      • the Sun Acquisition Sensors (SAS)
      • the safe mode software

    Last update: 21 June 2006

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    • In depth
    • About Service Module
      • Configuration
        • Structure
          • Thermal control
            • Attitude and orbit control
              • Electrical power
                • Power buses
                  • Data handling
                    • Ground communication

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