Quasicoordinate equations for flexible spacecraft

Abstract

Equations of motion equivalent to Lagrange's equations for generalized coordinates can be formulated in quasi-coordinate form. An analysis of the resulting equations is conducted and some alternative methods are considered. It is found that Lagrange's quasi-coordinate equations produce precisely the same equations of motion for any material system as would energy from the combination of Lagrange's generalized coordinate equations and Euler's rotational equation in vector form.