A spacecraft power/sun acquisition method includes a pitch search phase in which the spacecraft is rotated about a pitch axis, stopped, quaternions reset to remember position, and yaw search phase is entered when a first TOA occurs from a first slit sun sensor, and a keyhole slew is performed when the first TOA does not occur. The method also includes yaw search phase in which a keyhole slew is performed by rotating the spacecraft about a yaw axis, stopping the spacecraft, and entering pitch search phase when the first TOA does not occur, and in which the spacecraft is rotated about a yaw axis, stopped, quaternions reset, and sun hold phase is entered when a second TOA occurs from a second slit sun sensor. Lastly, the method includes a sun hold phase in which the spacecraft is oriented to the sun and placed in spin at power safe attitude.