Spin Decay of a Class of Satellites Caused by Solar Radiation. Part Ii. Arbitrary Attitude of the Spin Axis

摘要

The analysis studies the manner in which solar radiation heating and pressure acting on the long flexible antennae of a spin stabilized satellite can cause the spin rate to significantly decrease. The problem is formulated by finding a differential equation for the shape of a boom antenna under heating effects and inertial forces and deriving the expression for torque acting on the satellite due to solar radiation pressure on booms of known shape. By assuming small boom deflections and incorporating, for the first time, the spin axis attitude and solar exposure histories, the spin rate versus time histories of two example satellites, Alouette I and Explorer XX, are found, and excellent agreement obtained with actual flight data. (Author)