Study of an attitude acquisition measurement technique using the ESA starmapper: Part two: final report

The study deals with the rotational motion of a spin-stabilized spacecraft equipped with a V-slit sun sensor and the X-slit ESA starmapper. Assuming complete absence of an a priori attitude estimate, it is required to produce a rough estimate of the spacecraft attitude motion. It was assumed that sensor misalignments, external torques and...

Accurate spacecraft attitude estimation with the ESA starmapper

The ESA starmapper is an optical-electronic instrument with an array of photo-sensitive slits, to "be strapped down to spinning spacecraft. Recorded times of passage of known stars over these slits, together with mathematical models for spacecraft dynamics and starmapper instrument, provide the basis for recursive estimation of the spacecraft...

Survey of modern control and observation theory for disturbed, target following aerospace systems. Part two: Stochastic performance and spacecraft application

This document extends the general theory of observation and control for disturbed, target following aerospace systems surveyed in the companion document NLR TR 76041 U, to include stochastic disturbances. The theory thus extended is then applied to the high accuracy attitude control of a one—dimensionally rotating spacecraft, equipped with a...

Multiple attitude maneuvers for a spinning spacecraft disturbed by solar radiation

The attitude motion of interplanetary, spinning spacecraft under the influence of solar radiation and optimal thrusting, is investigated. A general model is formulated to describe the forces and torques exerted on the spacecraft due to solar radiation. The model is compared with model! available in the large body of literature on the subject. It...

Verslag "ESA symposium on the dynamics and control of non-rigid space-vehicles" 24-26 mei 1976, Esrin, Frascati, Italië

Survey of modern control and observation theory for disturbed, target following aerospace systems. Part one: Basic theory

The document contains a general theory towards the observation and optimal control of disturbed, target following aerospace systems. Disturbed, target following aerospace systems eire defined as aerospace systems that are designed to track a moving target system, while they are subjected to external, time-varying disturbances. The first five...

Parameter estimation in mathematical models of the esro 1A attitude dynamics using numerical differentiation of measured data

Purpose of the present study is the investigation of the validity of a new algorithm for the estimation of parameters related to spacecraft torques. The algorithm is based on data reduction by numerical differentiation using smoothing splines. Measured data of the ESRO lA "Aurorae" spacecraft are used. It is concluded that the new data reduction...

Response to ESOC request for quotation Ref. RQ/153/72/AR: Study on a numerical orbit computation based on an intermediate orbit

Analysis of the perturbed motion of asymmetric, spinning spacecraft

The sttdy aims at a synthesis of the large body of literattire dealing with the analytical description of the perturbed motion of rigid, spinning spacecraft. The reader is familiarized with the various mathematical approaches to the problem. The class of restricted, perturbed motion is analyzed using the Poincarê asjrmptotic expansion procedxire...