The GPS Attitude Determination Flyer (GADFLY): A Space-Qualified GPS Attltude Receiver on the SSTI-Lewis Spacecraft

The Global Positioning System (GPS) Attitude Determination Flyer (GADFLY) experiment is slated to fly on the Small Satellite Technology Initiative (SSTI) Lewis spacecraft in July, 1996. The primary objective of the GADFLY experiment is to demonstrate and validate the cost-saving, systems engineering features that can be exploited by using GPS receivers in space vehicles. The experiment’s physical hardware includes four GPS antennas and preamplifiers, cross-strapped to two Space Systems/Loral GPS Tensor receivers. This will be the first flight of a fully space-qualified GPS receiver capable of simultaneously sensing space vehicle attitude, orbit and providing a precise time reference.