Coupled librational dynamics and attitude control of satellites in presence of solar radiation pressure
- Paper ID
IAF-71-04
- author
- company
University of British Columbia
- country
Canada
- year
1971
- abstract
The paper studies the coupled librational dynamics of gravity oriented cylindrical satellites under the influence of the solar radiation pressure. The investigation suggests substantial destabilizing influence of the solar pressure on the attitude behaviour of a satellite. The possibility of utilizing this minute force to advantage for achieving general three-dimensional librational damping and attitude control is explored. The concept offers a great degree of versatility permitting the satellite to attain any general spatial configuration.