The SeaWinds Scatterometer Antenna Subsystem on the QuikScat Spacecraft

In today's environment of "Better, Faster, Cheaper", the ability to produce reliable, flight-proven mechanisms for mission critical applications is more important than ever. Such a mechanism was produced for the QuikScat satellite. The Scatterometer Antenna Subsystem (SAS) is a spin mechanism that continuously rotates a scatterometer antenna, and includes the necessary features (rotary interfaces, drives, launch locks, etc) to allow collection of the scatterometry data that will insure mission success. This paper will discuss the evolution of the SAS from its design heritage on the GGS Polar mission to qualification on the ADEOS II satellite to being a key enabler for the rapid development of the QuikScat Satellite.