Features of rotational motion of a spacecraft descending in the Martian atmosphere

Angular motion at atmospheric entry is studied in the paper for a spacecraft with a bi-harmonic moment characteristic. Special attention is given to the case when the spacecraft possesses two stable balanced positions, and, hence, it can oscillate in dense atmospheric layers in the ranges of small or large angles of attack. The averaged equations of spacecraft motion are derived, which allow one to increase the speed of calculations by several orders of magnitude. A real example is presented, which concerns a spacecraft specially designed for descending in the Martian atmosphere.     

High-precision single-input control of relative motion in spacecraft formation

A Newton-type method is proposed to improve the accuracy of control for relative motion of two satellites in close formation. We assume that the deputy satellite is equipped with a passive attitude control system that provides one-axis stabilization, and one or two orbit control thrusters are installed along the stabilized axis. Previous studies show that it is possible to construct periodic relative trajectories both in case of passive magnetic and spin stabilization. However, the accuracy of the numerically obtained control is quite low due to modeling errors caused by linearization of the equations of relative motion. Therefore, a correction procedure is required to compensate for nonlinear effects. To this end we suggest a recently developed algorithm based on the Newton method for solving nonlinear systems with geometric constraints. Being implemented, this algorithm allows decreasing the modeling error by up to ten times. The previously found control and trajectory of the linearized system are used as initial approximations.     

Trajectory correction of the Spektr-R spacecraft motion

The results of refining the parameters of the Spektr-R spacecraft (RadioAstron project) motion after it was launched into the orbit of the Earth’s artificial satellite in July 2011 showed that, at the beginning of 2013, the condition of staying in the Earth’s shadow was violated. The duration of shading of the spacecraft exceeds the acceptable value (about 2 h). At the end of 2013 to the beginning of 2014, the ballistic lifetime of the spacecraft completed. Therefore, the question arose of how to correct the trajectory of the motion of the Spektr-R satellite using its onboard propulsion system. In this paper, the ballistic parameters that define the operation of onboard propulsion system when implementing the correction, and the ballistic characteristics of the orbital spacecraft motion before and after correction are presented.     

Advanced reaction wheel controller for attitude control of spacecraft

A design procedure is presented for an attitude control system consisting of a momentum wheel and a reaction wheel. Control laws are designed for this system using modern control techniques. The observer based method produces a control scheme which achieves a good transient response.     

航天器故障诊断与容错控制技术综述

对容错技术和故障诊断技术的发展过程进行了简要综述，并在分析航天器故障诊断与容错控制特点的基础上，介绍了当前国际上航天器故障诊断及容错控制的发展现状，并分析了我国在这方面的研究现状与差距，最后对航天器故障诊断与容错控制方面有待解决的问题及发展方向发表了一些作者的看法。     

Research into the effects of astronaut motion on the spacecraft: a review

The paper reviews the research that has been undertaken to understand and quantify the disturbance effects of the astronaut's motion inside and outside the spacecraft on the vehicle's attitude and acceleratory environment. In early investigations, the dynamic interaction of astronauts, modeled as point masses, and the spacecraft, modelled as a rigid body, was analyzed. Through ground-based experiments and the modeling of astronaut-induced forces and moments as stochastic processes, it became possible to estimate the magnitude and energy content of the loads produced by the astronaut. The first experiment in space to measure the astronaut-induced disturbances was conducted on the Skylab orbital station. Loads generated while performing routine operations were measured on board the Space Shuttle in 1994 and on the space station Mir in 1996–1997.     

Multi-dimensional asymptotically stable adaptive systems for coordinate-parametric control of nonstationary spacecraft

The paper is concerned with control of multidimensional nonstationary processes regarded as adaptive systems of coordinate-parametric control     

Controlling the motion of a spacecraft when approaching a large object of space debris

The problem of calculating the parameters of maneuvering a spacecraft as it approaches a large object of space debris (LOSD) in close near-circular noncoplanar orbits has been considered. In [1–4], the results of analyzing the problem of the flyby of the separated LOSD groups have been presented. It has been assumed that a collector spacecraft approaches the LOSD and captures it or it is inserted into the nozzle of a small spacecraft that has a proper propulsion system (PS). However, in these papers, the flight from one object to another was only analyzed and the problem of approaching to LOSD with a given accuracy was not considered. This paper is a supplement to the cycle of papers [1–4]. It is assumed that, the final stage of approaching the LOSD is implemented by maneuvering in many orbits (up to several dozens) with low-thrust engines, but the PS operating time is fairly small compared with the orbit period in order to make it possible to use impulse approximation in the calculations.     

Averaged relative states for spacecraft formation control in the presence of J2 disturbances

The method of controlling a spacecraft formation using mean relative states as the inputs is an effective technique if control actuation is sought to be reduced. In this paper, we extend the efficacy of this method by including the linearized J2 terms in the system dynamics and derive the linear mapping between the actual and the mean relative states. The resultant control equation has J2 related gains that are shown to improve the tracking of the states and increase system performance for a phase plane-based controller performing formation maneuvering.     

Analysis and experiments for delay compensation in attitude control of flexible spacecraft

Space vehicles are often characterized by highly flexible appendages, with low natural frequencies which can generate coupling phenomena during orbital maneuvering. The stability and delay margins of the controlled system are deeply affected by the presence of bodies with different elastic properties, assembled to form a complex multibody system. As a consequence, unstable behavior can arise. In this paper the problem is first faced from a numerical point of view, developing accurate multibody mathematical models, as well as relevant navigation and control algorithms. One of the main causes of instability is identified with the unavoidable presence of time delays in the GNC loop. A strategy to compensate for these delays is elaborated and tested using the simulation tool, and finally validated by means of a free floating platform, replicating the flexible spacecraft attitude dynamics (single axis rotation). The platform is equipped with thrusters commanded according to the on–off modulation of the Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) control law. The LQR is based on the estimate of the full state vector, i.e. including both rigid – attitude – and elastic variables, that is possible thanks to the on line measurement of the flexible displacements, realized by processing the images acquired by a dedicated camera. The accurate mathematical model of the system and the rigid and elastic measurements enable a prediction of the state, so that the control is evaluated taking the predicted state relevant to a delayed time into account. Both the simulations and the experimental campaign demonstrate that by compensating in this way the time delay, the instability is eliminated, and the maneuver is performed accurately.     

Optimal control of the deployment process of solar wings on spacecraft

The optimal attitude control problem of spacecraft during the stretching process of solar wings is investigated in this paper. The dynamical equations of the nonholonomic system are derived from the conservation principle of the angular momentum of the multibody system. Attitude control of the spacecraft with internal motion is reduced to a nonholonomic motion planning problem. The spacecraft attitude control is transformed into the steering problem for a drift free control system. The optimal solution for steering a spacecraft with solar wings is presented. The controlled motion of spacecraft is simulated for two cases. The numerical results demonstrate the effectiveness of the optimal control approach.     

航天器热控系统中的热泵-蓄冷组合方案

提出了旨在降低热控系统质量的热泵-蓄冷组合热控方案。通过对负荷进行预测，对热泵蓄冷系统的集成模式，系统的运行策略，以及蓄冷设备的容量等问题进行了分析。结果表明：通过合理优化系统的运行参数，热泵蓄冷组合方案能实现热控系统的轻量化设计要求，在未来航天热管理系统中具有相当的应用潜力。     

Using the PROGRESS transport spacecraft in structure of the International Space Station for realization of scientific experiments under microgravity conditions

The problem is considered of using the PROGRESS transport spacecraft, which will deliver the payload on the ISS, as a free flying platform for realization of space experiments. For maintenance of the ISS 5-6 PROGRESS flights per year are planned. Usually after delivery of the payload the PROGRESS undocks from the ISS and burns down in the Earth atmosphere. However, the operating conditions of its onboard systems allow to prolong operation and to make free flight near to the station and repeatedly to be docked to it. It is offered to use this possibility for performing experiments on Material Science.     

Autonomous guidance and control of Earth-orbiting formation flying spacecraft: Closing the loop

Previous work on autonomous formation flying guidance and control identified three key challenges to overcome in order to obtain a fully autonomous guidance and control loop: an accurate but simple model of relative motion about elliptical and perturbed orbits, an efficient way of performing conflicting requirements trade-off with power-limited on-board computers, and finally an optimal or near-optimal control algorithm easy to implement on a flight computer. This paper first summarizes recent developments on each of these subject that help to overcome these challenges, developments which are then used as building blocks for an autonomous formation flying guidance and control system. This system autonomously performs trade-offs between conflicting requirements, i.e. minimization of fuel cost, formation accuracy and equal repartition of the fuel expenditure within the formation. Simulation results show that a complete guidance and control loop can be established using mainly analytical results and with very few numerical optimization which facilitates on-board implementation.     

Numerical solutions to exact equations of motion along near-optimal multi-orbit trajectories for a spacecraft in a Newtonian gravitational field

The actual topic of optimization of multi-orbit low-thrust spacecraft inter-orbital transfers is considered. We have developed an original approach to solving this problem, and it is described.     

Orbit design for the Spektr-R spacecraft of the ground-space interferometer

In order to carry out tasks of the RadioAstron mission, a high-apogee orbit was designed. On average, the period of its satellite’s orbit around the Earth is 8.5 days with evolution due to gravitational perturbations produced by the Moon and the Sun. The perigee and apogee of this orbit vary within the limits 7500–70000 km and 270000–333000 km, respectively. The basic evolution of the orbit represents a rotation of its plane around the line of apsides. Over 3 years, the plane normal to the orbit draws on the celestial sphere an oval with a semi-major axis of about 150° and semi-minor axis of about 45°.     

Application of information criteria to control the structurally uncertain navigation system of a reusable spacecraft

The problem of attitude control of a gyro-stabilized platform with the structurally uncertain drift model is solved. The solution is realized in two stages. At the first stage, on the basis of the obtained stochastic model of the reusable spacecraft navigation system, the drift model of gyro-stabilized platform is identified. At the second stage, the control of its spatial orientation is synthesized with regard to the found drift model. The results of numerical simulation are presented in conclusion.