SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR UNLOADING ANGULAR MOMENTUM FROM A SPACECRAFT MOMENTUM WHEEL STABILIZATION SYSTEM

摘要

A system and method for determining an orientation of a thruster used inunloadingangular momentum from a spacecraft. The system and method use only onethruster in theunloading operation. The system and method allow for user flexibility inchoosing maneuverduration to complement on-board maneuver plans or to avoid possible conflictswithoperations limitations. When used with XIPS thrusters, the required thrusterbum time for asingle thruster unloading operation is greatly reduced with respect to knowntwo-XIPS-thruster angular momentum unloading operations. A graphical user interface canbe used by asatellite operator to determine the specifics of the angular momentumunloading operation.