Aeronautics and astronautics – Spacecraft – Attitude control
Patent
1993-12-16
1995-10-17
Barefoot, Galen L.
Aeronautics and astronautics
Spacecraft
Attitude control
244171, 364459, B64G 124
Patent
active
054583004
ABSTRACT:
A method of controlling the attitude of a satellite according to which the direction of a predetermined celestial object is defined in a frame of reference related to the satellite, the instantaneous angular velocity vector of the satellite is detected and, by means of an actuating assembly, torques are applied to the satellite which are defined by a control law so as to rotate the satellite about the direction while orienting an aiming axis related to the satellite in the same direction, involves defining the direction of the predetermined celestial object in a frame of reference related to the satellite by a first quantity representing a first angle measured between an axis of sight and the projection of the direction onto a first reference plane containing the axis of sight and by a second quantity representing a second angle defined by the axis of sight and the projection of the direction onto a second reference plane containing the axis of sight, the second angle being calculated from the first angle and from the instantaneous angular velocity vector of the satellite, while a satellite for implementing the method includes a body; a sensor having the axis of sight; an actuating assembly; an attitude control unit for generating signals for applying the torques to the satellite; a unit for measuring the rotation velocity; and a processing unit calculating the second quantity.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4997146 (1991-03-01), Wey Aude, Jr.
patent: 5042752 (1991-08-01), Surauer
patent: 5080307 (1992-01-01), Smay
patent: 5227385 (1994-01-01), Flament
patent: 5255879 (1993-10-01), Yocum
patent: 5348255 (1994-09-01), Abreu
Flament Patrick
Molina-Cobos Miguel
Aerospatiale - Societe Nationale Industrielle
Barefoot Galen L.
VanOphem John
VanOphem Remy J.
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