Attitude control is the process of changing or stabilizing an object’s orientation-such as which direction it points-without necessarily changing its location or direction of travel. In spacecraft, it can use thrusters, reaction wheels, or other actuators, guided by sensors and a control system.
It matters wherever orientation affects safety or performance. A spacecraft may need to point an antenna or instrument accurately; a vehicle using directed gas jets could use them to influence its orientation as well as its motion. In cybersecurity, attitude-control systems can be targets for interference or unauthorized commands: defenders protect their sensors, command links, and control software to prevent an attacker from changing how a platform points or stabilizes.