Wobble and nutation control, and spin stabilization for a spacecraft using momentum conserving devices
US6062512A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 27, 1997 |
| Grant date | May 16, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 27, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64G1/38
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method of damping nutation and removing wobble of a spacecraft provided with first and second momentum sources having linearly independent momentum components in the plane transverse to the given axis. The method includes sensing angular velocities of the spacecraft along orthogonal first and second axes in the transverse plane, and generating velocity signals representative of the angular velocities. The velocity signals are processed to form control signals representative of desired torques for driving the momentum sources. The desired torques have a first additive component proportional to the angular velocities for removing the wobble and a second additive component proportional to the first derivatives of the angular velocities for damping the nutation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.