Asymptotic study of a complete magnetic attitude control cycle providing a single-axis orientation

The angular motion of an axisymmetrical satellite equipped with the active magnetic attitude control system is examined. Attitude control system has to ensure necessary orientation of the axis of symmetry in the inertial space. It implements the following strategy: coarse reorientation of the axis of symmetry with nutation damping or “-Bdot” without initial detumbling; spinning-up about the axis of symmetry to achieve the property of a gyro; fine reorientation of the axis in the inertial space. Dynamics of the satellite is analytically studied using averaging technique on the complete control loop consisting of five algorithms. Solutions of the equations of motion are obtained in terms of quadratures for most cases or even in closed-form. The latter allowed to study the dependence of motion parameters including time-response with respect to the orbit inclination and other parameters for all algorithms.     

Single-Axis Solar Orientation of a Satellite of the Earth

The possibility of using the mode of single-axis solar orientation is considered for a satellite placed into a nearly circular orbit with an altitude of 900 km and bearing a solar sail. The satellite (together with the sail) has an axisymmetric structure, its symmetry axis being the principal central axis of the maximum moment of inertia. The center of the sail pressure lies on this axis and is displaced with respect to the satellite's center of mass. The symmetry axis of the satellite is set to the Sun so that its center of mass would be located between the Sun and the pressure center and would rotate around this axis with an angular velocity of a few degrees per second. The satellite's axis of symmetry makes a slow precession under the action of the gravitational moment and the moment of light pressure forces. Though the maximum magnitudes of these moments are comparable, the moment of the light pressure forces dominates and controls the precession in such a way that the symmetry axis orientation to the Sun remains unchanged.     

Periodic motions of a satellite-gyrostat relative to its center of mass under the action of gravitational torque

We investigated periodic motions of the axis of symmetry of a model satellite of the Earth, which are similar to the motions of the longitudinal axes of the Mir orbital station in 1999–2001 and the Foton-M3 satellite in 2007. The motions of these spacecraft represented weakly disturbed regular Euler precession with the angular momentum vector of motion relative to the center of mass close to the orbital plane. The direction of this vector during the motion was not practically changed. The model satellite represents an axisymmetric gyrostat with gyrostatic moment directed along the axis of symmetry. The satellite moves in a circular orbit and undergoes the action of the gravitational torque. The motion of the axis of symmetry of this satellite relative to the absolute space is described by fourth-order differential equations with periodic coefficients. The periodic solutions to this system with special symmetry properties are constructed using analytical and numerical methods.     

Spin-stabilized satellite magnetic attitude control scheme without initial detumbling

The angular motion of an axisymmetrical satellite equipped with an active magnetic attitude control system is considered. The dynamics of the satellite are analytically studied on the whole control loop. The control loop is as follows: preliminary reorientation along with nutation damping, spinning about the axis of symmetry, then precise reorientation of the axis of symmetry in inertial space. Reorientation starts right after separation from the launch vehicle. Active magnetic attitude control system time-response with respect to its parameters is analyzed. It is proven that low-inclined orbit forces low control system time-response. Comparison with the common control scheme shows the time-response gain. Numerical analysis of the disturbances effect is carried out and good pointing accuracy is proved.     

A specific case of stability of cylindrical precession of a satellite

In a central Newtonian gravitational field, the motion of a dynamically symmetrical satellite along an elliptical orbit of arbitrary eccentricity is considered. The particular motion of the satellite is known when its axis of symmetry is perpendicular to the orbit plane, and the satellite rotates about this axis with a constant angular velocity (cylindrical precession). A nonlinear analysis of stability of this motion has been performed under the assumption that the geometry of the satellite mass corresponds to a thin plate. At small values of orbit eccentricity e the analysis is analytical, while numerical analysis is used for arbitrary values of e.     

Evolution of the Orbit of an Earth Satellite with a Solar Sail

The efficiency of using the light pressure of solar radiation for increasing the semimajor axis of the orbit of an Earth Satellite carrying a solar sail is estimated. The orbit is nearly circular and has an altitude of about 900 km. The satellite is in the mode of single-axis solar orientation: it rotates at an angular velocity of 1 deg/s around the axis of symmetry, which traces the direction to the Sun. This mode is maintained by the solar sail, which serves in this case as a solar stabilizer. The following method of increasing the semimajor axis of the orbit (which is equivalent to increasing the total energy of the satellite's orbital motion) is considered. On those sections of the orbit, where the angle between the light pressure force acting upon the sail and the vector of geocentric velocity of the satellite does not exceed a specified limit, the sail is functioning as a solar stabilizer. On those sections of the orbit, where the above-indicated angle exceeds this limit, the sail is furled by way of turning the edges of the petals towards the Sun. Such a control increases the semimajor axis by more than 150 km for three months of flight. In this case, the accuracy of solar orientation decreases insignificantly.     

Model development and adaptive imbalance vibration control of magnetic suspended system

A system model is developed to describe the translational and rotational motion of an active-magnetic-bearing-suspended rigid rotor of a single-gimbal control moment gyro (SCMG) onboard a rigid satellite. This model closely reflects the motion characteristics of the rotor by considering the dynamic and static imbalance as well as the coupling between the gimbal's and the rotor's motion on a satellite platform. Adaptive autocentering control is strictly constructed for the preceding rotor with unknown dynamic imbalance. The rotor achieves its rotation about the principal axis of inertia by identifying the little rotational angles from the geometric axis to the principal axis and then using the results to tune a stabilizing controller, which is composed of a decentralized PD controller with cross-axis proportional gains and high-pass and low-pass filters. The main disturbance in the wheel spinning can thereby be completely removed and the vibration acting on the satellite can be attenuated.     

One method of gravitational attitude control of a rotating satellite

The mode of spinning up a low-orbit satellite in the plane of its orbit is studied. In this mode, the satellite rotates around its longitudinal axis (principal central axis of the minimum moment of inertia), which executes small oscillations with respect to the normal to the orbit plane; the angular velocity of the rotation around the longitudinal axis is several tenths of a degree per second. Gravitational and restoring aerodynamic moments were taken into account in the equations of satellite’s motion, as well as a dissipative moment from eddy currents induced in the shell of the satellite by the Earth’s magnetic field. A small parameter characterizing deviation of the satellite from a dynamically symmetric shape and nongravitational external moments are introduced into the equations. A two-dimensional integral surface of the equations of motion, describing quasistationary rotations of the satellite close to cylindrical precession of the corresponding symmetrical satellite in a gravitational field, has been studied by the method of small parameter and numerically. We propose to consider such quasistationary rotations as unperturbed motions of the satellite in the spin-up mode.     

多体卫星复合控制物理仿真试验系统

对于具有星间链路天线的多体卫星而言 ,进行星体姿态和天线指向复合控制的地面物理仿真试验研究是一个重要课题。本文主要叙述利用单轴气浮台模拟卫星姿态运动 ,由天线框架驱动机构 (GDA)实物连接组成的多体卫星平面运动动力学环境下的物理仿真试验系统。     

Spin-axis pointing of a magnetically actuated spacecraft

Attitude regulation proves to be a challenging problem, when magnetic actuators alone are used as attitude effectors, since they do not provide three independent control torque components at each time instant. In this paper a rigorous proof of global exponential stability is derived for a magnetic control law that leads the satellite to a desired spin condition around a principal axis of inertia, pointing the spin axis toward a prescribed direction in the inertial frame. The technique is demonstrated by means of numerical simulation of a few example maneuvers. An extensive Monte Carlo simulation is performed for random initial conditions, in order to investigate the effect of changes in control law gains.     

Elimination of relative secular drift of orbits of two satellites caused by polar oblateness of the Earth

A method of elimination of relative secular drifts in satellite formations is suggested for the case of influence of a perturbation due to polar oblateness of the Earth. The method is applied to eliminate relative secular drifts in the case when a satellite is controlled using an engine mounted along its orientation axis (the satellite is supplied with a passive magnetic attitude control system) and with the help of a solar sail installed on one of the satellites. Analytical results are confirmed by numerical simulation.     

Biaxial Mode of Rotation of a Satellite in the Orbit Plane

A mode of motion of a satellite with respect to its center of mass is studied, which is called the biaxial rotation in the orbit plane. In this mode of rotation, an elongated and nearly dynamically symmetric satellite rotates around the longitudinal axis, which, in turn, rotates around the normal to the plane of an orbit; the angular velocity of rotation around the longitudinal axis is several times larger than the orbital angular velocity, deviations of this axis from the orbit plane are small. Such a rotation is convenient in the case when it is required to secure a sufficiently uniform illumination of the satellite's surface by the Sun at a comparatively small angular velocity of the satellite. The investigation consists of the numerical integration of equations of the satellite's motion, which take into account gravitational and restoring aerodynamic moments, as well as the evolution of the orbit. At high orbits, the mode of the biaxial rotation is conserved for an appreciable length of time, and at low orbits it is destroyed due to the impact of the aerodynamic moment. The orbit altitudes and the method of constructing the initial conditions of motion that guarantee a sufficiently prolonged period of existence of this mode are specified.     

GEO光学遥感卫星阳光入侵规避方法

地球静止轨道(GEO)光学遥感卫星的相机每天午夜时分存在阳光入侵问题,致使相机焦面存在潜在损伤,严重时将影响卫星的使用寿命。文章调研了国内外GEO光学遥感卫星针对此问题的解决方式,在综合考虑相机、电能、机动、热控、测控等各项影响因素之后,提出了一种应用约束规避算法的阳光入侵规避方法,首先将卫星设计的工程约束条件转换为空间几何约束条件,通过将明确约束参数后的算法引入卫星姿态控制器来调整卫星姿态指向,避免阳光入侵相机内部。典型工况的仿真分析结果表明:在规避过程中,相机光轴矢量与阳光入射矢量夹角满足约束条件,此方法有效,可满足卫星在轨应用。     

基于机器学习的卫星姿态控制律设计

传统的优化算法只能针对给定控制律的指定参数进行优化.机器学习的方法,不仅进化参数,而且可以按给定准则进化出卫星姿态控制律表达式.建立卫星姿态动力学模型及敏感器和执行机构的原理与误差模型,构成含噪声的单自由度的闭环数字仿真系统.统计一段时间内仿真结果的姿态精度和稳定度作为该控制律的适应度函数.针对姿态控制律选定合适的函数...     

Variation of the Satellite Orbit Altitude by the Light Pressure Force

The possibility of the uncontrolled increase of the altitude of an almost circular satellite orbit by the force of the light pressure is investigated. The satellite is equipped with a damper and a system of mirrors (solar batteries can serve as such a system). The flight of the satellite takes place in the mode of a single-axis gravitational orientation, the axis of its minimum principal central moment of inertia makes a small angle with the local vertical and the motion of the satellite around this axis constitutes forced oscillations under the impact of the moment of force of the light pressure. The form of the oscillations and the initial orbit are chosen so that the transverse component of the force of the light pressure acting upon the satellite be positive and the semimajor axis of the orbit would continuously increase. As this takes place, the orbit remains almost circular. We investigate the evolution of the orbit over an extended time interval by the method which employs separate integration of the equations of the orbital and rotational motions of the satellite. The method includes outer and inner cycles. The outer cycle involves the numerical integration of the averaged equations of motion of the satellite center of mass. The inner cycle serves to calculate the right-hand sides of these equations. It amounts to constructing an asymptotically stable periodic motion of the satellite in the mode of a single-axis gravitational orientation for current values of the orbit elements and to averaging the equations of the orbital motion along it. It is demonstrated that the monotone increase of the semimajor axis takes place during the first 15 years of motion. In actuality, the semimajor axis oscillates with a period of about 60 years. The eccentricity and inclination of the orbit remain close to their initial values.     

Orbital stability of planar oscillations of a satellite in a circular orbit

We consider the attitude motion of a satellite with a circular orbit in a central Newtonian gravitational field. The satellite is a solid body whose mass geometry is that of a plate. A nonlinear analysis is made of orbital stability of planar oscillations of the satellite at which its middle or major axis of inertia is perpendicular to the orbit plane. At small amplitudes of oscillations the analysis of stability was made analytically, while for arbitrary amplitudes the numerical analysis was performed.     

Navigation Solution to Maneuver a Spacecraft Relative to a Sphere Centered on a Cooperative Satellite

A differential correction algorithm is presented to deliver an impulsive maneuver to a satellite to place it within a sphere, with a user defined radius, centered around a non-maneuvering satellite within a constrained time. The differential correction algorithm develops and utilizes the State Transition Matrix along with the Equations of Motion and multiple satellite?s state information to determine the optimum trajectory to achieve the desired results. The results from the differential correction algorithm are very accurate for prograde orbits, as presented. The results allow for orbit design trade-offs, including satellites? initial inclinations, semi-major axes, as well as the ballistic coefficients. The results also provide an empirical method to determine the optimum ΔV$\mathrm{\Delta }V$ solution for the provided problem. Understanding that the minimum fuel solution lies with a semi-major axis ratio of 1, a very accurate empirical approximation is presented for semi-major axis ratio values less than and greater than 1. This work ultimately provides the generalized framework for applying the algorithm to a unique user defined maneuvering spacecraft scenario.     

倾角偏置太阳同步轨道的地面轨迹保持方法

为在倾角偏置条件下保持太阳同步轨道卫星的地面轨迹,在考虑地球扁率摄动、大气阻力摄动和太阳引力谐振等主要影响因素,以及卫星地面轨迹允许漂移范围的基础上,采用主动超调与被动控制结合的策略,提出了一种初始半长轴偏置后的卫星地面轨迹保持方法。分析了半长轴和倾角摄动变化率,以及初始半长轴和倾角偏置量对地面轨迹漂移的影响。仿真结果表明,该法可基本满足设计阶段的精度要求。     

一种用磁力矩器控制卫星姿态的新方法

本文研究如何用磁力矩器控制极地轨道上对地指向卫星的姿态。由于地磁场的方向在轨道上周期变化，卫星的姿态动力方程是一个线性周期系统。本文采用块能控标准形和滑动模态的设计思想，提出了种开关控制方法，可以保证线性周期系统的稳定性。文中给出一个仿真例子验证了此方法的有效性。     

Stabilization of a Reentry Vehicle by a Partial Spin-up during Uncontrolled Descent

Stabilization of a reentry vehicle (RV) by a partial spin-up of it is considered for the case of uncontrolled descent into the atmosphere. In this case, the vehicle is a composite construction consisting of two rigid bodies, a return capsule and a stabilizing block, which is put in rotation. A model is developed for the spatial motion of the reentry vehicle considered as a system of coaxial rigid bodies rotating about a common axis of symmetry. The free motion is studied, and the stability of steady-state regimes is analyzed. The spatial motion of the system is considered for the case of a small asymmetry due to displacement of the axes of dynamic symmetry of the bodies with respect to the spin axis, and approximate solutions for the motion parameters of the free system are found.