Although the simple adaptive control (SAC) is widely studied both in theory and application in flexible space structure control and other control problems, it is restricted by the almost strictly positive real (ASPR) conditions. In most practical control problems, the ASPR conditions are not satisfied. Therefore, based on the SAC theory, this paper proposes a backstepping simple adaptive control algorithm which suits the system with arbitrary relative degree with no need of parallel feedforward compensator. The proposed control algorithm consists of decomposition of the arbitrary relative degree system into a known subsystem and an unknown ASPR subsystem which are connected in cascade, design of constant output feedback controller for the known subsystem, and implementation of backstepping method and SAC of the unknown ASPR subsystem. Inheriting the characteristics of the SAC, this method can be adaptive online for the parameter uncertainties. Then, the application of the proposed controller to large flexible space structure with collocated sensors and actuators is studied, and the simulation results validate the proposed controller. It is a new strategy to apply the classical SAC to high relative degree plants. Although the simple adaptive control (SAC) is widely studied both in theory and application in flexible space structure control and other control problems, it is restricted by the almost strictly positive real (ASPR) conditions. not satisfied. Thus, based on the SAC theory, this paper proposes a backstepping simple adaptive control algorithm which suits the system with arbitrary relative degree with no need of parallel feedforward compensator. The proposed control algorithm consists of decomposition of the arbitrary relative degree system into a known subsystem and an unknown ASPR subsystem which are connected in cascade, design of constant output feedback controller for the known subsystem, and implementation of backstepping method and SAC of the unknown ASPR subsystem. Inheriting the characteristics of the SAC, this method can be adaptive online for the parameter uncertainties. Then, the application of the proposed cont roller to large flexible space structure with collocated sensors and actuators is studied, and the simulation results validate the proposed controller. It is a new strategy to apply the classical SAC to high relative degree plants.