Open Collections

A near optimum strategy for semipassive attitude control of large communications satellites

University of British Columbia

Effectiveness of solar radiation pressure in the three-axis attitude control of present day and next generation of large communications satellites is investigated. A simple two-flap configuration is used with optimization of the direction of the applied control moment rather than the magnitude of the weak solar radiation pressure. Simulations were carried out in the presence of varying orbital eccentricity and inclination, solar aspect angle and controller dynamics parameters. Time histories of librational response against orbital position are presented for controlled and uncontrolled conditions. The results suggest the semipassive controller to be quite effective over a wide range of system parameters and it can meet the exacting pointing accuracy demanded by large communications satellites.

Text

2010-05-28

For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/25107

Mechanical Engineering

University of British Columbia

Graduate