The Department of the Air Force, Headquarters Space Systems Division, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) are currently involved in litigation with Hughes Aircraft Company over the alledged infringement of the 'Williams patent,' which describes a method for attitude control of a spin-stabilized vehicle. Summarized here is pre-1960 RAND work on this subject and information obtained from RAND personnel knowledgeable on this subject. It was concluded that there is no RAND documentation that directly parallels the 'Williams patent' concept. Also, the TIROS II magnetic torque attitude control method is reviewed. The TIROS II meteorological satellite, launched on November 23, 1960, incorporated a magnetic actuation system for spin axis orientation control. The activation system was ground controlled to orient the satellite spin axis to obtain the desired pointing direction for optical and infrared sensor subsystems.
Attitude Orientation Control for a Spinning Satellite
1991
24 pages
Report
No indication
English
Attitude orientation control for a spinning satellite
TIBKAT | 1991
|Magnetic attitude control of a spinning satellite
AIAA | 1964
|Magnetic attitude control of a spinning satellite.
AIAA | 1965
|Attitude determination for a spinning satellite
AIAA | 1976
|