Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) [or sometimes called the Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS)] makes sure a satellite knows where it is, knows which way it's pointing, and can turn to face where the mission needs. It uses sensors like sun sensors, magnetometers and gyroscopes (IMUs) to estimate orientation, decides where the satellite should point (a ground target, the Sun, or a ground station), and drives actuators such as reaction wheels and magnetorquers to get it there.
The team sets pointing requirements, sizes the sensors and actuators, and builds a simulation of the orbit and spacecraft dynamics to design and test algorithms. They then turn those algorithms into flight software and verify it with hardware tests. In orbit, GNCz first stabilizes the tumbling satellite after launch and then keeps it pointed correctly for the rest of the mission, so almost every payload depends on it working.
GNC Requirements (2026 Baseline)
Concept of Operations & ADCS Modes (2026)
Pointing & Knowledge Error Budget
Disturbance Torque & Momentum Budget
Hardware Baseline (Sensors & Actuators)
GNC Interface Control Document (OBC, EPS, Payload)
Actuator Sizing (Reaction Wheels & Magnetorquers)
Sensor & Actuator Calibration Plan
Attitude Estimator Design (MEKF)
Orbit Determination & Propagation
Attitude Control Law & Pointing Modes
Momentum Management (Desaturation)
FDIR (Fault Detection, Isolation & Recovery)
https://github.com/UWOrbital/gnc-sim-and-controls
Simulation Architecture (2026 Model)
Simulation Parameters & Configuration
Verification & Validation Plan
Flight Software Architecture & Code Generation