Satellites and roll/yaw controls therefor

US4504912A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Messerschmitt Bolkow Blohm GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Ernst Bruderle · Ottobrunn, DE
• Albrecht Reindler · Weißenohe, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 12, 1982
• Grant date: Mar 12, 1985
• Expiry date: Jul 12, 2002

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B64G1/244
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

In the disclosed satellite and arrangement therefor, roll or yaw of a satite with pitch momentum bias and travelling on a substantially polar orbit with the aid of a coil interacting with the earth's magnetic surface includes a timing arrangement for dividing the orbit of the satellite into four successive quadrants P1, P2, P3, and P4, with the quadrants being inclined at an angle of 45.degree. to the equator and the quadrants P2 and P4 being polar quadrants and the quadrants P1 and P3 being equatorial quadrants. A first control unit produces satellite control signals in response to the timing means which are arranged to use the first control while the satellite is in the polar quadrants and the second control unit when the satellite is in the equatorial quadrants. The sign of the control unit is inverted in the quadrants P3 and P4, but maintained in the quadrants P1 and P2. Both controls use or generate internal signals corresponding to the roll angles and roll velocity to produce the control unit signals. However, the second control unit effects another signal equivalent to using or generating a roll acceleration signal.