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Control capability analysis for complex spacecraft thruster configurations

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Abstract

The set of forces and moments that can be generated by thrusters of a spacecraft is called the “control capability” with respect to the thruster configuration. If the control capability of a thruster configuration is adequate to fulfill a given space mission, we say this configuration is a feasible one with respect to the task. This study proposed a new way to analyze the control capability of the complex thruster configuration. Precise mathematical definitions of feasibility were proposed, based on which a criterion to judge the feasibility of the thruster configuration was presented through calculating the shortest distance to the boundary of the controllable region as a function of the thruster configuration. Finally, control capability analysis for the complex thruster configuration based on its feasibility with respect to the space mission was given followed by a 2-D thruster configuration example to demonstrate its validity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Beijing Institute of Control Engineering, Beijing, 100190, China

    Min Wang & YongChun Xie

  2. National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Space Intelligent Control, Beijing, 100190, China

    Min Wang & YongChun Xie

Authors
  1. Min Wang
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  2. YongChun Xie
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Correspondence to Min Wang.

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Wang, M., Xie, Y. Control capability analysis for complex spacecraft thruster configurations. Sci. China Technol. Sci. 53, 2089–2096 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-010-3139-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-010-3139-9

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