Q5Satellite Communication
Question
Q.5. Name the three axis used for satellite communication expressions.
Answer
The three axes used to express satellite attitude are roll, pitch and yaw — rotations about the satellite's velocity-direction (roll), orbit-normal (pitch), and nadir-pointing (yaw) axes respectively.
Satellite attitude (orientation) is expressed using three orthogonal axes, analogous to aircraft attitude conventions: roll (rotation about the axis aligned with the satellite's direction of travel/velocity vector), pitch (rotation about the axis perpendicular to the orbital plane, i.e., the orbit-normal axis), and yaw (rotation about the axis pointing from the satellite toward the center of the Earth, the nadir direction). Correct attitude control about all three axes is essential to keep the satellite's antennas accurately pointed at their intended earth-coverage area and its solar panels correctly oriented toward the sun.