Method of and apparatus for returning an earth orbiting spacecra

Details Method of and apparatus for returning an earth orbiting spacecra Method of and apparatus for returning an earth orbiting spacecra

1989-03-31

1991-07-30

Basinger, Sherman

Aeronautics and astronautics

Spacecraft

Attitude control

244171, 244003210, B64G 0124, F41G 0700

Patent

active

050353810

ABSTRACT:
An Earth orbiting spacecraft (1) is returned to an Earth pointing attitude by means of a star sensor (6), Earth sensor (2), Sun sensor (4) and an angular momentum storage device. With the Sun sensor (4) locked on the Sun (5) the spacecraft is rotated until the star sensor (6) senses a predetermined brighter than magnitude 3 star such as Canopus (7). The angular momentum storage device is operated to preserve an attitude reference and the spacecraft (1) is further rotated by an angle .alpha. such that subsequent rotation around the angular momentum storage axis causes the Earth (3) to enter the view of the Earth sensor (2).

REFERENCES:
patent: 3511452 (1970-05-01), Smith et al.
patent: 3765621 (1973-10-01), Shigehara
patent: 4071211 (1978-01-01), Muhlfelder et al.

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