Aeronautics and astronautics – Spacecraft – Attitude control
Patent
1986-09-18
1988-08-30
Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
Aeronautics and astronautics
Spacecraft
Attitude control
244165, 244169, 244171, B64G 124
Patent
active
047670843
ABSTRACT:
Apparatus for autonomously performing stationkeeping maneuvers for three-axis stabilized spacecraft (1) such as geosynchronous satellites. For each of one or more spacecraft axes (y, z) the invention autonomously performs desaturation of a momentum/reaction wheel (31-32, 41, respectively) associated with that axis, while simultaneously accomplishing the preselected compensation of the spacecraft's east-west position. Thrusters (35-38, 45-48) having a polarity corresponding to the desired desaturation polarity are fired in a particular sequence: when a preselected east-west firing bias is present, the thrusters fired are solely from that face of the spacecraft (1) needed to counteract the east-west deviation. After the bias has been worked down, thrusters are fired from alternating spacecraft faces. An open loop portion (63-74) of the instant circuit performs or completes working-down of the east-west firing bias once per preselected firing period in those cases where the desaturation maneuvers are not sufficient to perform this function by themselves.
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Chan Fred N.
Reimche Wallace E.
Corl Rodney
Ford Aerospace & Communications Corporation
Peters Jr. Joseph F.
Radlo Edward J.
Zerschling Keith L.
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