Control System Design for Spin Axis Alignment with the Orbital Major Axis.

摘要

A control system design is presented for a spinning communications satellite in a highly eccentric,near-polar orbit. The design yields an alignment of the spin axis with the line of apsides and obviates ground commands (except possibly for initial attitude acquisition and orbit determination). A technique is developed for the on-board prediction of the time of apogee passage and autonomous control at apogee for spin axis alignment with the local vertical. Cumulative errors in the apogee epoch predictions due to orbital period errors are avoided in this technique. (Author)