To solve the problem of attitude synchronization for a group of flexible spacecraft during formation maneuvers, a distributed attitude cooperative control strategy is investigated in this paper. Based on the backstepping design and the neighbor-based design rule, a distributed attitude control law is constructed step by step. Using cascaded systems' theory and graph theory, it is shown that the attitude synchronization is achieved asymptotically and the induced vibrations by flexible appendages are simultaneously suppressed under the proposed control law. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.