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An orbiting satellite system includes an asymmetrically deployed antenna and two deployable solar cell arrays. The solar cell arrays are deployed to a location which compensates for the asymmetry of the antenna so that the resulting station keeping thruster torques balance. Also, the system surfaces

An orbiting satellite system includes an asymmetrically deployed antenna and two deployable solar cell arrays. The solar cell arrays are deployed to a location which compensates for the asymmetry of the antenna so that the resulting station keeping thruster torques balance. Also, the system surfaces may be configured and the arrays so deployed to balance solar pressure torques on the system.

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In a spacecraft system including a spacecraft body, engine drive means including station keeping means for maintaining said system in a given operating orientation, payload and operating means, a deployable antenna having a retracted launch mode and a deployed mode when the spacecraft system is in a

In a spacecraft system including a spacecraft body, engine drive means including station keeping means for maintaining said system in a given operating orientation, payload and operating means, a deployable antenna having a retracted launch mode and a deployed mode when the spacecraft system is in an operating position in space, solar cell array means including at least one deployable solar cell array, said array having a retracted launch mode and a deployed mode when the system is in its operating position, the mass center of said spacecraft including all said means when in the launch mode having a given first location relative to said body, said mass center tending to relocate to a second undesirable location upon deployment of said antenna and said solar array, the improvement therein comprising means for deploying said at least one solar cell array to an orientation which locates the mass center of said deployed, operating spacecraft system substantially symmetrically relative to forces applied to said system in a given direction when in said operating position.