A method of determining one or more inertial properties of a spacecraft (140, figure 1). The method comprises: receiving data collected at different points in time during operation of the spacecraft. The data includes information indicative of: the angular momentum of a reaction wheel (41, 42, 43, figure 1) on-board the spacecraft, and the angular velocity of the spacecraft. The method further comprises: identifying changes in the angular velocity of the spacecraft based on the information indicative of the angular velocity of the spacecraft; and determining one or more inertial properties of the spacecraft based on the identified changes in the angular velocity of the spacecraft and the information indicative of the angular momentum of the reaction wheel.
Determination of spacecraft inertial properties
18.06.2025
Patent
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch