attitude control
Adjusting spacecraft orientation
Attitude control is the process of orienting a spacecraft, aircraft, or other vehicle in a desired direction.
In aerospace, attitude refers not to mood but to orientation relative to a reference frame—which way the craft is pointing.
Attitude control systems use thrusters, reaction wheels, or control surfaces to maintain or change this orientation: The satellite's attitude control keeps its solar panels facing the sun.
- gyroscopeSpinning disc measuring orientation
- thrusterEngine providing forward force
- stabilizationProcess of becoming steady
- orientationPosition relative to surroundings
- spacecraftVehicle for outer space
pitch · yaw · roll · momentum · satellite · command module · axis · spin · center of mass · balance · torque · sensor · maneuver · inertia · flight · autopilot · trim · damping
- spaceflightlaunch, astronaut, spacecraft, liftoff, orbit
- rocketryrocket, rockets, rocket fuel, rocket engine, rocket engines
- Space ShuttlesAtlantis, Challenger, Columbia, Discovery, Endeavour
- Space Station Tasksspacewalk, EVA, docking, undocking, maintenance
- reentryreentry, reentry vehicle, reentry capsule, heat shield, ablative
- spacecraft partsengine, thrusters, antenna array, thruster, fuel tank
attitude, control, attitudes, attitudinal, controls, controlled, controlling, controller, controllers