Airmen, engineers execute groundbreaking satellite test

  • Published
  • By Scott Prater
  • 50th Space Wing Public Affairs
SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFNS) --  Airmen with the 3rd Space Operations Squadron, along with engineers from Lockheed Martin and The Aerospace Corporation, successfully demonstrated the capability to correct a wayward satellite using the spacecraft's reaction wheels.

The successful procedure represents an important achievement and provides wide-ranging benefits to satellite systems and American taxpayers because it can potentially boost the lifespan of on-orbit satellites.

"The reason this successful test is so significant is it shows we don't necessarily need to use a satellite's thrusters, and thus, its valuable fuel, to recover a vehicle," said 3rd SOPS Capt. Karl Meyer, the test's executer.

Satellites are launched into orbit with a finite amount of hydrazine fuel. Any maneuvers required to reposition them while in orbit require fuel and limit the life span of a satellite.

During the test, 3rd SOPS operators intentionally spun a test satellite off of its operational axis, rendering the spacecraft virtually blind. When the same anomaly occurs on an operational satellite, this would sever communication to deployed forces. After confirming the spacecraft had lost sight of earth, operators executed a series of commands to the vehicle to correct its orientation, using only the satellite's reaction wheels.

The original procedure for a recovery from attitude loss called for burning the satellite's valuable fuel and shortening its lifespan while trying to recover.

More importantly, when a satellite's thrusters are engaged to complete a recovery, the effort creates momentum, which forces operators to complete a second maneuver to stop the vehicle. This action not only requires additional fuel, it also requires an additional day and renders the vehicle inaccessible to the warfighter for a longer period.

3rd SOPS officials operate the Defense Satellite Communication System constellation, a critical communications link used by the Department of Defense members and U.S. allies.

"This test breaks important ground for DSCS because the potential fuel savings increases the options available to U.S. Strategic Command to put DSCS satellites on station, where geographic combatant commanders need them for high-bandwidth communications requirements," said Lt. Col. Gregory Karahalis, the 3rd SOPS operations officer. "Our operators demonstrated enormous skill, endurance and knowledge in executing the test. They made the six-plus hour operation look easy and validated the procedures on a real satellite, which is a unique opportunity in and of itself."

The successful test represented a culmination of months worth of work. The operations concept was authored by Lockheed Martin Space Systems engineer Barry Fink in Sunnyvale, Calif. Engineers at Lockheed Martin developed a generic plan for the test and sent it to the 3rd SOPS, where Captain Meyer further developed the plan into an operational procedure. Both parties simulated the test on computers here and at Lockheed Martin's factory location. Following simulations, corrections and adaptations were made and a new procedure was initiated for the actual test. The careful planning and simulation limited the risks to the test satellite so that a real emergency didn't occur.

The test was selected to be performed during this time of year to further validate its effectiveness throughout the year. The summer solstice is considered the worst time of year for a satellite to recapture the earth because of the vehicle's angle and distance from the planet's equator.

"Even though this test took a lot of work for us to pull off, it's worth it just for the fact we (3rd SOPS) can be on the cutting edge of operations even with these legacy systems," Captain Meyer said. "With this test, we've done something on a live satellite the original system designers in the 80s never thought could be done. I think that's pretty cool."

This test wasn't just a cool science experiment for the Airmen of 3rd SOPS; it has real impacts for the warfighter and the American taxpayer.

"Essentially, through this successful test, we gain the flexibility to fly these satellites beyond what was originally a 10-year fuel budget," Colonel Karahalis said. "We'll now be able to use these satellites where the warfighter needs them for a longer time."