AAS 97-165

ATTITUDE DETERMINATION FOR SPIN STABILIZED SATELLITES FROM GPS INTERFEROMETRY

R. V. F. Lopes, S. M. Fabri and L. Do. O. Ferreira, INPE-Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais, Brazil

Abstract

The aim of this work is to present a complete GPS-based attitude determination procedure for spin stabilized satellites. Starting with interferometric observations of GPS carrier phase, the attitude vector, phase angle and spin rate are estimated by the extended Kalman filter. Numerical results from digital simulation are presented, as well as some real data from an experiment on the ground. Real satellite application is also envisaged under the scope of the Brazilian space program.