A propulsion configuration is defined for a precision orbital tracking vehicle (POTV) that employs electrodynamic forces to control vehicle attitude and position with respect to another spacecraft. A pair of electrically powered thrusters assist the POTV in position control. The vehicle can maintain continuous standoff at close range from another spacecraft in any direction, has docking capability, and has gross orbital transfer capability. These capabilities and the specific design derived for the POTV have been defined by the requirements of a postulated space facility (ASSET) that salvages structural aluminum from the external fuel tank of the space shuttle. Precision control of the POTV is achieved by an electrical conductor configuration that makes current-produced thrust continuously available for independent control of components of vehicle attitude and translation. A robust tracking controller is designed that guarantees stability and compensates for modelling error.... Tethering, Spacecraft docking, Tracking, Space shuttle external tank.
Electromagnetically-Controlled Precision Orbital Tracking Vehicle (POTV)
1992
142 pages
Report
No indication
English
Unmanned Spacecraft , Electric & Ion Propulsion , Aluminum , Configurations , Control , Electrodynamics , Errors , Fuel tanks , Precision , Space shuttles , Spacecraft , Spacecraft docking , Stability , Standoff , Tethering , Thrust , Thrusters , Transfer trajectories , Stationkeeping , Parking orbit trajectories , Theses , Low frequencies , Precision Orbital Tracking Vehicles
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