Why is it taking so long to get 3-Axis stabilisation working?
Three axis stabilisation will mean that squint will be greatly reduced as the spacecraft orbits the Earth. To achieve it, there is still a substantial amount of work to be done by the command team. It’s not a matter of uncertainty about the spacecraft. It’s a matter of testing a lot of software, making sure all the contingencies like the mystery effect and protracted eclipses are covered, and that they can get back to spin mode if they need to. The original plans for 3-axis mode were based on a much higher inclination. Some of the software routines will need to be loaded in the spacecraft and tested in bits and pieces. Others can be tested in ground simulations. This is all under active development, but they do not want to rush it or back themselves into a corner from which they cannot retreat. They hope to begin testing with the next good solar angle.
