Spacecraft attitude control system using low thrust thrusters

Details Spacecraft attitude control system using low thrust thrusters Spacecraft attitude control system using low thrust thrusters

1998-01-22

2000-04-25

Swiatek, Robert P.

Aeronautics and astronautics

Spacecraft

Attitude control

244172, B64G 126

Patent

active

060534559

ABSTRACT:
A spacecraft, such as a geosynchronous weather or communications satellite, is constructed to include a plurality of low thrust thrusters mounted at predetermined locations on at least one of a spacecraft appendage or a spacecraft bus. The plurality of low thrust thrusters are fired in pairs for at least one of removing a disturbance torque or providing fine pointing attitude control. In one embodiment the low thrust thrusters are mounted on a solar array panel, thereby increasing the moment arm and enhancing the thrust output of the low thrust thrusters. In one embodiment a spacecraft has a plurality of low thrust thrusters arranged as at least two sets of two low thrust thrusters, individual ones of the low thrust thrusters of a set being disposed in a V-configuration and mounted at predetermined locations on at least one of a spacecraft appendage or a spacecraft bus. The plurality of low thrust thrusters are selectively fired for achieving control of 3-axes of spacecraft attitude or momentum.

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