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An advanced real-time satellite simulator (ARTSS) has been developed to support the ground operations activities of the ETRI satellite control system, such as testing of the system facilities, validation of flight control procedures, verification of satellite commands as well as training of the ground operators. The design of ARTSS is based on the top-down approach and makes use of a modular programming to ensure flexibility in modification and expansion of the system. Graphics-based monitoring and control facilities enhance the satellite simulation environment. The software spacecraft model in ARTSS simulates the characteristics of a geostationary communication satellite using a momentum bias three-axis stabilization control technique. The system can be also interfaced with a hardware payload subsystem such as Ku-band communication transponder to enhance the simulator capability. Therefore, ARTSS is a high fidelity satellite simulation tool that can be used on low-cost desk top computers. In this paper, we describe the design features, the simulation models and the real-time operating functions of the simulator.

A new mathematical model to predict the beam pointing instability of a nonconservative two-body satellite system in spinning injection mode has been developed by using Newton-Euler and projection methods. Since the on-axis and null axis of the omni antenna with toroidal pattern beam form a right angle, wobbling of the antenna on-axis is measured by determining the Euler angles which represent the orientation of the satellite's spin axis. Because of the complexity of the system which is a time varying, nonstationary, nonlinear dynamical system, a numerical method is used for the analysis. Computer simulation results present the effects of the mass distribution and internal mass motion on the antenna beam pointing.