Process and a device for controlling the attitude of a three-axis stabilized spinning spacecraft

US5597143A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Deutsche Aerospace AG · DE

Inventors

• Michael Surauer · Chieming, DE
• Helmut Bittner · Munich, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 10, 1994
• Grant date: Jan 28, 1997
• Expiry date: Jun 10, 2014

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B64G1/281
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

The invention provides an improved process and apparatus for controlling the attitude of a three-axis stabilized spacecraft. Separate dead zone elements are used to define threshold values for limiting nutation amplitude and deviation of the spin direction of the spacecraft from a desired orientation, and a continuous check is performed to determine whether the nutation amplitude and deviation of the spacecraft exceed the threshold values. A control intervention is initiated to reduce the nutation, even when the spin direction is within the range limited by the applicable threshold value.