Members of the 3rd Space Operations Squadron at Schriever AFB, Colo., have demonstrated a promising new way to reposition wayward satellites, Schriever officials announced, Aug. 4, 2010. This method potentially extends a satellite's life since it requires only the spacecraft's reaction wheels to maneuver, sparing use of the satellites' finite store of onboard fuel for repositioning. During the demo, SOS airmen, together with industry engineers, spun a defense satellite communication system test satellite off its axis. They then issued a series of commands to make the satellite correct itself via the reaction wheels. Here, an illustration of a DSCS satellite.
Air Force illustration
