Abstract: A 3-axis stabilized spacecraft has primary and secondary attitude control thruster strings, thrusters in each string exerting roll, pitch and yaw torques. The primary and secondary thruster strings are similar and exhibit paired thrusters oriented on opposite sides of an East/West axis passing through the spacecraft. A stationkeeping input energizes the North or South thrusters to cause a maneuver of the spacecraft along a North/South axis, the thrusters effecting a perturbation in the spacecraft's attitude. An attitude control system energizes at least a primary string thruster to counteract the attitude perturbation, the thruster being oriented so as also to cause a change in the spacecraft's East/West orbit velocity.

Abstract: A method for East/West stationkeeping of a geostationary satellite maintains the osculating value of longitude from exceeding a specified deadband for a specified drift period between maneuvers. In the planning, the mean longitude, the mean drift rate and the mean eccentricity vector are calculated and then maneuvers are executed to maintain the values below a magnitude such that the osculating longitude will be within the specified deadband over a specified drift period. The target conditions are achieved through a plurality of maneuvers which initiate a period of free drift which lasts for a specified number of days. During the free-drift period, longitude remains within its deadband, and no additional maneuvers are needed or are performed. The method has the advantage that it can take into account limitations on thruster on-time by allowing for a generalized number of stationkeeping maneuvers.