Spacecraft Momentum Dumping Using Gravity Gradient

摘要

The disturbance angular momentum accumulated by the momentum wheels or control momentum gyros onboard an orbiting spacecraft can be alleviated with gravity-gradient torque in some cases. How a modification to the nominal spacecraft operational attitude profile can result in lowering propellant consumption, potentially extending the spacecraft's life span on orbit, is discussed. The feasibility of using gravity gradient for momentum dumping is demonstrated in a case study.