The design and application of an antenna positioner mechanism for Intelsat-5 series communication satellite

In opertion, the East/West spot beam reflectors on the Intelsat-5 series communication satellite are required to satisfy initial precise-pointing to particular Earth locations; and repositioning and pointing to different Earth locations as traffic changes dictate during the seven year mission. Two 2 axis antenna positioner mechanisms (APM) are utilized in fulfilling these requirements. Each APM is comprised of three components which consist of one center pivot and two linear actuators rather than an integral two axis gimbal design. The step resolution of the APM can be adjusted as required with the present design, at a step resolution of 0.002865 degrees. The design philosophy and considerations, test program, and test results are discussed as well as some major problems encountered during the course of testing and their resolution.