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Dynamic analysis of tethered defunct satellites with solar panels

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Abstract

A precise dynamic model for towing and removing a defunct satellite with solar panels in orbit using a tethered net often has low computational efficiency owing to the complex contact and collision between the net and panels, which is not conducive to research. To solve this problem, a “single main tether–multiple subtether” bifurcation structure with beads was employed as the tethered net model. This study investigated the dynamics of tethered defunct satellites with solar panels, particularly the behavior of the attitude of the tethered satellite, oscillation of the main tether, and vibration of solar panels under different conditions. The results showed that different attachment configurations of the subtethers and the flexibility of the main tether have an evident impact on the dynamic characteristics of the system.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Shan Lu, Jiajia Duan, Yu Liu, Huanjie Wang, and Zehua Jiang from the Shanghai Aerospace Control Technology Institute for valuable discussions during this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Aerospace Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China

    Rui Qi & Yang Zhang

  2. School of Aerospace Astronautics, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China

    Heng Jiang & Rui Zhong

Authors
  1. Rui Qi
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  2. Yang Zhang
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  3. Heng Jiang
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  4. Rui Zhong
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Correspondence to Rui Qi.

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The authors have no competing interests to declare that are relevant to the content of this article.

Additional information

Rui Qi received his B.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Beihang University in 2008 and 2013, respectively. From May 2015 to May 2016, he was a visiting professor at McGill University working with Prof. Arun Misra on the study of active debris removal using a tethered space-tug. He is currently an associate professor at Beijing Institute of Technology. His research interests include active debris removal, tethered satellite systems, and spacecraft orbital dynamics and control.

Yang Zhang received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in 2020 and 2023, respectively, from Beijing Institute of Technology. His research interests include dynamical modeling and control.

Heng Jiang received her B.S. degree in 2023 from Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and she is currently a master student at Beihang University.

Rui Zhong received his Ph.D. degree in spacecraft design from Beihang University, Beijing, China, in 2011. He worked as a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Earth and Space Science and Engineering at York University from 2011 to 2013. Since 2013, he has been an assistant professor in the School of Astronautics at Beihang University, Beijing, China, where he is currently an associate professor. His research interests include tethered satellite systems, spatial multiflexible body dynamics, spacecraft dynamics, and machine learning-based intelligent control.

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Qi, R., Zhang, Y., Jiang, H. et al. Dynamic analysis of tethered defunct satellites with solar panels. Astrodyn (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42064-024-0206-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42064-024-0206-8

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