Spacecraft attitude control strategy for reducing disturbance torques

US11273933B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Boeing Company · US

Inventors

• Christopher James Wasson · Torrance, US
• Gary E. Lemke · Grand Rapids, US
• John P. Mills · Redondo Beach, US
• Cecilia G. Cantu · El Segundo, US
• Timothy S. Lui · Cupertino, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 29, 2019
• Grant date: Mar 15, 2022
• Expiry date: Feb 6, 2040

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B64G1/26
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A control system for reducing disturbance torque of a spacecraft is disclosed. The spacecraft revolves around a celestial body surrounded by an atmosphere. The control system includes processors in electronic communication with one or more actuators and a memory. The memory stores data into a database and program code that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the control system to instruct the spacecraft to enter a safing mode. In response to entering the safing mode, the control system instructs the one or more actuators to align a principal axis of the spacecraft with a vector that is normal to the orbit around the celestial body. The control system also instructs the actuators to rotate the spacecraft about the principal axis, where a rotational orientation of the spacecraft relative to the celestial body is shifted by about one-half a rotation about the principal axis.