Elevation Stepping of Gimballed Devices on Rotor-Stabilized Spacecraft.

摘要

The pointing accuracy of dual-spin or momentum-wheel stabilized spacecraft can be affected by gimballed sensors which perform scanning motions. These motions can induce nutation of the vehicle. Particularly in cases involving rapid elevation steps in the motion of gimballed sensors, computer simulation of the resulting spacecraft motion can be complex, requiring extensive reprogramming for each case considered. A graphical technique is described in this Note which permits rapid evaluation of the effects of a stepping sensor on the motion of the basic spacecraft. (Author)