Of course it was using a feedback loop, but GIGO applies:<p><pre><code>   The STT and IRU disagreed on the attitude of the satellite.
   In this case the IRU takes priority, but its data
   apparently was wrong, reporting a rotation rate of 20
   degrees per hour, which was not occurring.
</code></pre>
Starting from there it would have no way of knowing about the true value of &#x27;X&#x27;, so the feedback loop was fed with wrong data and just kept taking decisions† that made things worse, especially given that:<p><pre><code>   The satellite configuration information uploaded earlier
   was wrong and the reaction wheels made the spin worse.
   [...]
   the ACS attempted to correct a rotation that didn’t exist.
   The erroneous configuration information led the ACS to 
   aggravate, not correct, the rotation.
</code></pre>
† Even without misconfiguration, stopping an object from spinning in a vacuum isn&#x27;t as direct and linear as accelerating&#x2F;braking in a car, requiring precise coordination of multiple fixed thrusters and&#x2F;or reaction wheels.