The mass center location of a spinning drag-free satellite can be estimated because there is control required to accelerate the mass center along the axis of spin as long as there is some nutation in the spinning motion. Linear and nonlinear models are compared and observability discussed. Online estimation fails when nutation is damped so an offline mechanization is proposed. A new sensor has been designed to permit greater relative motion than was possible on the drag-free satellite flown in 1972 (JH-1). Experimental laboratory results using a spinning vehicle with the new sensor mounted 30 cm from a spherical air bearing support are presented which confirm earlier simulation results.
Mass center estimation of a drag-free satellite
International Federation of Automatic Control, Triennial World Congress ; 1975 ; oston, US
1975-01-01
Miscellaneous
No indication
English
Mass center estimation in spinning drag-free satellites
NTRS | 1971
|Mass Center Estimation in Spinning Drag-Free Satellites
AIAA | 1972
|Mass center estimation in spinning drag-free satellites
AIAA | 1971
|Engineering Index Backfile | 1964
|NTIS | 1984
|