This article describes the details of an advanced Spacecraft Attitude Dynamics Simulator (SADS) at the Space Research Laboratory (SRL) at the K. N. Toosi University of Technology. This dumbbell style simulator is based on a spherical air-bearing and employed to develop, improve, and carry out operational tests of sensors, actuators, and attitude control algorithms in experimental framework. The SADS facility includes a variety of components: cold gas propulsion system, complementary inertial measurement unit, on-board processor, semi-automatic mass balancing mechanism, and power supply unit. The overall design of SADS and its components is pretty complicated when considering the mission requirements, operational constraints, and functional limitations imposed by construction procedures. To address this complication, an accurate design and development (or selection) process for each subsystem is presented, which attempts to consider the subsystems interactions and improve cost of operation. The SADS facility is now operated in SRL and the results of its simulated and operational maneuvers are described in detail.
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