Aeronautics and astronautics – Spacecraft – Attitude control
Patent
1990-05-14
1992-01-14
Barefoot, Galen
Aeronautics and astronautics
Spacecraft
Attitude control
244171, B64G 124, B64G 136
Patent
active
050803077
ABSTRACT:
A method for acquiring Earth-pointing attitude of a three-axis, body-stabilized spacecraft orbiting the Earth in a prescribed orbit plane, e.g. a geosynchronous communications satellite, including the steps of aligning the roll axis of the spacecraft with the sun line (which is the vector directed from the spacecraft to the Sun); then, orienting the spacecraft such that the angle formed between the yaw axis and the sun line is equal to the Earth-Sun angle (which is the angle formed between the sun line and a vector directed from the origin of the spacecraft internal coordinate system to the Earth); then, orienting the spacecraft such that the yaw axis is aligned with the center of the Earth; and finally, rotating the spacecraft about its yaw axis until its pitch axis is oriented at a desired attitude relative to the orbit plane, e.g., normal to the orbit plane, to thereby complete acquisition of the Earth-pointing attitude.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4306692 (1981-12-01), Kaplan et al.
patent: 4358076 (1982-11-01), Large et al.
patent: 4752884 (1988-06-01), Slafer et al.
patent: 4909460 (1990-03-01), Mouve et al.
patent: 4927101 (1990-05-01), Blancke
Hummel William F.
Smay John W.
Yocum John F.
Barefoot Galen
Denson-Low Wanda K.
Hughes Aircraft Company
Mitchell Steven M.
Westerlund Robert A.
LandOfFree
Spacecraft earth-pointing attitude acquisition method does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Spacecraft earth-pointing attitude acquisition method, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Spacecraft earth-pointing attitude acquisition method will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-535828