This brief proposes a robust control algorithm for stabilization of a three-axis stabilized flexible spacecraft in the presence of parametric uncertainty. external disturbances and control input nonlinearity/dead-zone. The designed controller based on adaptive variable structure output feedback control satisfies the global reaching condition of sliding mode and ensures that the system state globally converges to the sliding mode. A modified version of the proposed control law is also designed for adapting the unknown upper bounds of the lumped uncertainties and perturbations. The stability of the system under the modified control law is established. Numerical simulations show that the precise attitude pointing and vibration suppression can be accomplished using the derived robust or adaptive controller. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.