SIMSAT: A Satellite System Simulator and Experimental Test Bed for Air Force Research

Abstract

SIMSAT (the SIMulation SATellite) is an AFIT-sponsored program to develop a laboratory-based physical satellite simulator. SIMSAT supports experimentation in areas of attitude control, precision pointing, and vibration suppression. SIMSAT development began with the purchase of a three-axis gas bearing which simulates a torque-free space environment. SIMSAT subsystems provide power, attitude control, telemetry, and structural support to experimental payloads. Project challenges included integration of attitude control software/hardware, high-output power storage devices, remote communications, high-frequency data collection, structural design, and computer display outputs.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 1999
Accession Number
ADA361635

Entities

People

  • Donald M. Mannebach
  • George R. Nagy
  • James E. Colebank
  • R. Dan Jones
  • Randall D. Pollak

Organizations

  • Air Force Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Application Software
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Battery Chargers
  • Communication Systems
  • Computer Programming
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Control Panels
  • Control Systems
  • Energy
  • Engineers
  • Environment
  • Measurement
  • Operating Systems
  • Systems Engineering
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Wireless Communications

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Robotics and Automation.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Satellites
  • Space - Spacecraft Maneuvers