Towards digital computer simulation of the dynamics of flexible spacecraft

Software design for digital computer simulation of the dynamics of flexible spacecraft equipped with actuators and sensors, should take into account two properties of the overall system: (i) s.ampled-data control of the spacecraft leads to discontinuous inputs (forcing functions) in the differential equations of motion, thereby requiring...

Application of model following control and estimation techniques to attitude control of manoeuvring spacecraft Part I: Theory and simulation results

This document presents an approach to sampled data, on-board estimation and control of the attitude motion of manoeuvring spacecraft. Algorithms which are developed include: a - model following control of attitude manoeuvres b - estimation of spacecraft state (attitude, angular velocity, disturbance torque) c - optical-inertial attitude...

Application of model following control and estimation techniques to attitude control of manoeuvring spacecraft Part II: Simulation software description

This document describes two computer programs developed during a study of the application of modern control techniques in the area of spacecraft attitude control. Theory and simulation results are described in part I of this report. In part II a general overview of the tasks of the simulation program is presented, and program design aspects are...

Hybrid equations for translational and rotational motion of flexible spacecraft

The report deals with the equations of motion of spacecraft with rigid main body, flexible appendages, and rotors and jets on the main body. The hybrid coordinate modelling method is applied. The resulting equations describe the translational motion of the spacecraft, the rotational motion, and the coupling between these two types of motion. The...

Study of an attitude acquisition measurement technique using the ESA starmapper: Part I: Executive summary

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...