An active nutation damping device, consisting of an angular accelerometer, a dc motor driven flywheel, and associated electronics, was developed for spacecraft use. This damping system was used on the Lageos spacecraft, launched 4 May 1976, to control nutation buildup during the long coast period after the third stage separation. Of many electrical and mechanical design choices, an angular rather than linear accelerometer offered some advantages but problems developed in adapting the angular accelerometer to spacecraft use. The damper package was evaluated and proven on a three axis gas-bearing simulator that duplicated the Lageos spacecraft critical flight dynamics. A failure analysis of the damper assembly was performed. Performance of the damper during the Lageos flight has confirmed the preflight evaluation and analysis.


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    Title :

    An Active Nutation Damper for Spacecraft


    Contributors:

    Publication date :

    1977


    Size :

    24 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




    An active nutation damper for spacecraft

    Abercrombie, R. A. / Flatley, T. W. | NTRS | 1977


    An active nutation damper for spacecraft

    Abercrombie, Richard A. / Flatley, Thomas W. | TIBKAT | 1977