Modeling and Analysis of the Control System of a Satellite Tracking Antenna

In this paper a model is developed for the 60-foot satellite tracking antenna at Vandenberg Tracking Station (VTS). The model includes the control system, the motors, and the antenna structure. The antenna performance is simulated, using MATRIX_X/SystemBuild, for two kinds of inputs: step functions and satellite passes. The predicted antenna performance is then compared to real antenna data, that was recorded at VTS, in order to demonstrate the accuracy of the model. Finally, the model is used to predict the antenna performance on a satellite pass for which no real data is available. The model shows that the antenna is capable of performing this pass with tracking errors less than the specified 2 milliradians (0.114°).