Abstract
A method is proposed that enables one to accomplish semipassive attitude stabilization of a spacecraft moving in a circular Keplerian orbit in the geomagnetic field. The method is developed on the basis of the electrodynamic effect of the influence of the Lorentz forces acting on the charged spacecraft's surface. It possesses advantages such as control law simplicity, reliability, cost efficiency, small mass, and the possibility of using the basic control system components not only for attitude stabilization of a spacecraft but also for ensuring its electrostatic radiation screening. The possibility of implementing the method for slightly inclined orbits is proved analytically. Two versions of implementation of the method are proposed. The calculations confirmed the possibility of using also these versions for orbits whose inclinations are not small. The advantages of each version are revealed and practical recommendations for their utilization are given.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Bentsik, E., Precessioni Regolari di un Giriscopio Soggetto a Forze Newtoniane e a Forze di Potenza Nulla, Rend. Sem. Mat. Univ. Padova, 1975, vol. 54.
Lunev, V.V., Spherical Motions of a Spacecraft under the Action of Null Potential Forces, in Tr. 10–kh chtenii, posvyashchennykh razrabotke nauchnogo naslediya i razvitiyu idei K.E. Tsiolkovskogo. Sektsiya “Mekhanika kosmicheskogo poleta,” Kaluga, 1975 (Proc. of 10th Readings Devoted to Studying Scientific Heritage of K.E. Tsiolkovskii and Developing His Ideas. Section “Mechanics of Space Flight”, Kaluga, 1975), Moscow, 1976, p. 72.
Kuznetsov, L.I., Influence of Electric Charge on Rotational Motion of the Earth's Satellite, Prikl. Mekh., Leningrad: Leningr. Gos. Univ., 1981, no. 5, pp. 78–83.
Lyakhovka, G.V., Special Cases of Attitude Motion of a Body with a Shield of Electrostatic Protection, Prikl. Mekh., Leningrad: Leningr. Gos. Univ., 1981, no. 5, pp. 48–63.
Chikova, N.V., Perturbation of Rotational Motion of a Body in the Central Gravitational Field by Lorentz Forces, Prikl. Mekh., Leningrad: Leningr. Gos. Univ., 1981, no. 5, pp. 38–47.
Beletskii, V.V. and Khentov, A.A., Secular Evolution of Rotational Motion of a Satellite with an Electrified Screen, Kosm. Issled., 1982, vol. 20, no. 3, pp. 342–351.
Kuznetsov, L.I. and Tikhonov, A.A., Electric Charge Influence on Rotational Motion of the Earth's Satellite, Vestn. Leningr. Gos. Univ., Ser. 1, 1985, vol. 1 (no. 1), pp. 113–115.
Tikhonov, A.A., Impact of Charge Asymmetry on Rotational Motion of a Screened Body in the Geomagnetic Field, Vestn. Leningr. Gos. Univ., Ser. 1, 1987, vol. 4, (no. 22), pp. 64–69.
Tikhonov, A.A., Stabilization of a Charged Body in the Earth's Magnetic Field, Vestn. Leningr. Gos. Univ., Math., Mekh., Astron., 1988.
Tikhonov, A.A., Influence of Orbit Ellipticity on Planar Oscillations of a Body under the Action of Lorentz Forces, Prikl. Mekh., Leningrad: Leningr. Gos. Univ., 1988, no. 7, pp. 28–34.
Lyakhovka, G.V. and Tikhonov, A.A., Rotational Motion of the Earth's Satellite in the Geomagnetic Field, Kosm. Issled., 1994, vol. 32, nos. 4–5, pp. 62–67.
Tikhonov, A.A., Oscillations of a Screened Satellite in the Plane of a Slightly Elliptic Orbit, Prikl. Mekh., St.-Petersburg: Izd. St.-Peterburg. Univ., 1995, no. 9, pp. 90–101.
Petrov, K.G. and Tikhonov, A.A., Moment of Lorentz Forces Acting upon a Charged Satellite in the Earth's Magnetic Field. Part 2: Calculation of the Moment and Estimation of Its Components, Vestn. St.-Peterburg. Univ., Ser. 1, 1999, vol. 3 (no. 15), pp. 81–91.
Mandea, M. et al., International Geomagnetic Reference Field-2000, Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, 2000, vol. 120, pp. 39–42.
McIlwain, R.J., Changing the Satellite Angular Momentum with the Help of the Earth's Magnetic Field, in Problemy orientatsii iskusstvennykh sputnikov Zemli (Problems of Orientation of Earth's Satellites), Moscow: Nauka, 1966, pp. 295–323.
Trukhanov, K.A., Ryabova, T.Ya., and Morozov, D.Kh., Aktivnaya zashchita kosmicheskikh korablei (Active Protection of Spacecraft), Moscow: Atomizdat, 1970.
Lunev, V.V., Integrable Cases in the Problem of Motion of a Heavy Solid Body with a Fixed Point in the Field of Lorentz Forces, Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR, 1984, vol. 275, no. 4.
Beletskii, V.V., Dvizhenie iskusstvennogo sputnika otnositel'no tsentra mass (Motion of an Artificial Satellite with Respect to the Center of Mass), Moscow: Nauka, 1965.
Sarychev, V.A., Problems of Artificial Satellite Orientation, Itogi Nauki Tekh., Ser.: Issled. Kosm. Prostr., vol. 11, Moscow: VINITI, 1978.
Sarychev, V.A. and Ovchinnikov, M.Yu., Magnetic Systems of Orientation for Artificial Satellites of the Earth, Issled. Kosm. Prostr., vol. 23, Moscow: VINITI, 1985.
Pivovarov, M.L., Evolution of Rotation of a Satellite with a Damping Flywheel, Preprint of Space Res. Inst., USSR Acad. Sci., Moscow, 1986, no. 1106.
Pivovarov, M.L., Damping the Oscillations of a Satellite with a Large Magnetic Moment, Preprint of Space Res. Inst., USSR Acad. Sci., Moscow, 1987, no. 1251.
Pivovarov, M.L., Liquid Damping of Oscillations of a Satellite with Large Magnetic Moment, Preprint of Space Res. Inst., USSR Acad. Sci., Moscow, 1990, no. 1622.
Bellman, R., Stability Theory of Differential Equations, New York: McGraw-Hill, 1953. Translated under the title Teoriya ustoichivosti reshenii differentsial'nykh uravnenii, Moscow: Izd. Inostr. Lit., 1954.
Malkin, I.G., Teoriya ustoichivosti dvizheniya (Theory of Motion Stability), Moscow: Nauka, 1966.
Kovalenko, A.P., Magnitnye sistemy upravleniya kosmicheskimi letatel'nymi apparatami (Magnetic Systems of Spacecraft Control), Moscow: Mashinostroenie, 1975.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tikhonov, A.A. A Method of Semipassive Attitude Stabilization of a Spacecraft in the Geomagnetic Field. Cosmic Research 41, 63–73 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022355730291
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022355730291