Construction and realization of a low-cost satellite attitude simulator concept

In this paper we present the realization of a test environment to test preflight high-fidelity inter-satellite communication links on ground. The basic requirements are given by the research project "Telepresence for Space Missions" as part of a collaborative research centre (SFB 453) funded by the German Research Community (BFG). The intention of this project is establishing a communication link from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to a geostationary relay satellite in order to control robotic applications on LEO satellites. While about 0.6 seconds. To establish an Inter Satellite Link (ISL) a tracking mechanism for a steerable antenna is needed. To verify the functionality of the tracking mechanism, a test bed has been developed at the Institute of Astronautics using an existing concept of a test bed for an attitude simulation system. This test bed for attitude simulations is based on an antenna turntable which is part of the S-band ground station at the Institute of Astronautics. Using this antenna turntable with 2 degrees of freedom (azimuth, elevation) the simulator design envisages another degree in order to demonstrate possible satellite attitudes. A key point in the design is the easy and fast reconfiguration of the antenna turntable into the attitude test bed. In this paper the constraints for the construction and final realization of this attitude simulator test bed is depicted. It describes all modifications needed to reconfigure the antenna turntable into an attitude simulator system test bed and visa versa. Eventually, the test setup will be illustrated which will be used for the addressed verification.