MAXUS is the biggest European sounding rocket for microgravity research. The Attitude and Rate Control System (ARCS), as part of the MAXUS Service Module (MSM), controls payload body rates after motor/payload separation and keeps the payload attitude within a predetermined cone throughout the scientific mission. This ensures pointing of the high gain portions of the television, telemetry and telecommand antenna patterns towards the ground stations, enabling adequate RF links. By utilizing the ARCS with three fiber optic gyros and a 68020 CPU based microcomputer for the attitude and heading reference system, a new technology was successfully implemented. The computer performs a highspeed quaternion update algorithm, scaling and compensation of gyro signals, coning correction and Euler angle extraction. Control torques are executed by a two level cold gas thruster system.
MAXUS Payload Attitude and Rate Control System Utilizing Fibre-Optic Gyros
1991
5 pages
Report
No indication
English
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