Active nutation control system for space vehicle
US4370716A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 22, 1980 |
| Grant date | Jan 25, 1983 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 22, 2000 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64G1/244
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An active nutation control system for a space vehicle spinning about a geometric axis has thrusters for creating an external torque about an axis transverse to the first. The amplitude of the nutation and its phase in relation with the spinning movement are detected. A control arrangement receives signals from the nutation detectors, computes the changes in the angular direction of the angular momentum of the vehicle caused by thruster activation and energizes the thrusters when contemporaneously the amplitude of the nutation movement is greater than a predetermined threshold, the phase corresponds to maximum efficiency of said thrusters in reducing nutation momentum of the vehicle or at least does not increase it.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.