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Verification of the Solar Dynamics Observatory High Gain Antenna Pointing Algorithm Using Flight DataThe Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), launched in 2010, is a NASA-designed spacecraft built to study the Sun. SDO has tight pointing requirements and instruments that are sensitive to spacecraft jitter. Two High Gain Antennas (HGAs) are used to continuously send science data to a dedicated ground station. Preflight analysis showed that jitter resulting from motion of the HGAs was a cause for concern. Three jitter mitigation techniques were developed and implemented to overcome effects of jitter from different sources. These mitigation techniques include: the random step delay, stagger stepping, and the No Step Request (NSR). During the commissioning phase of the mission, a jitter test was performed onboard the spacecraft, in which various sources of jitter were examined to determine their level of effect on the instruments. During the HGA portion of the test, the jitter amplitudes from the single step of a gimbal were examined, as well as the amplitudes due to the execution of various gimbal rates. The jitter levels were compared with the gimbal jitter allocations for each instrument. The decision was made to consider implementing two of the jitter mitigating techniques on board the spacecraft: stagger stepping and the NSR. Flight data with and without jitter mitigation enabled was examined, and it is shown in this paper that HGA tracking is not negatively impacted with the addition of the jitter mitigation techniques. Additionally, the individual gimbal steps were examined, and it was confirmed that the stagger stepping and NSRs worked as designed. An Image Quality Test was performed to determine the amount of cumulative jitter from the reaction wheels, HGAs, and instruments during various combinations of typical operations. The HGA-induced jitter on the instruments is well within the jitter requirement when the stagger step and NSR mitigation options are enabled.
Document ID
20110015278
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Bourkland, Kristin L. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Liu, Kuo-Chia (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
July 25, 2011
Subject Category
Space Communications, Spacecraft Communications, Command And Tracking
Report/Patent Number
GSFC.CP.4799.2011
Meeting Information
Meeting: O''Reilly Open Source Convention
Location: Portland, OR
Country: United States
Start Date: July 25, 2011
End Date: July 29, 2011
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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