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At least 55 records · Page 3

AE-C attitude determination and control prelaunch analysis and operations plan

A description of attitude control support being supplied by the Mission and Data Operations Directorate is presented. Included are descriptions of the computer programs being used to support the missions for attitude determination, prediction, and control. In addition, descriptions of the operating procedures which will be used to accomplish mission objectives are provided.

Werking, R. D.↗

Wind-tunnel/flight correlation study of aerodynamic characteristics of a large flexible supersonic cruise airplane CXB-70-1). 1: Wind-tunnel tests of a 0.03-scale model at Mach numbers from 0.6 to 2.53

The longitudinal and lateral forces and moments for a 0.03 scale deformed rigid, static force model of the XB-70-1 airplane were determined. Control effectiveness was determined for the elevon in pitch and roll, for the canard, and for the rudders. Component effects of the canard, deflected with tips, variable position canopy, bypass doors, and bleed dump fairing were measured. The effects of small variations in inlet mass flow ratio and small amounts of asymmetric deflection of the wing tips were assessed.

Daugherty, J. C.↗

ATTDES: An Expert System for Satellite Attitude Determination and Control

The design, analysis, and flight operations of satellite attitude determintion and attitude control systems require extensive mathematical formulations, optimization studies, and computer simulation. This is best done by an analyst with extensive education and experience. The development of programs such as ATTDES permit the use of advanced techniques by those with less experience. Typical tasks include the mission analysis to select stabilization and damping schemes, attitude determination sensors and algorithms, and control system designs to meet program requirements. ATTDES is a system that includes all of these activities, including high fidelity orbit environment models that can be used for preliminary analysis, parameter selection, stabilization schemes, the development of estimators covariance analyses, and optimization, and can support ongoing orbit activities. The modification of existing simulations to model new configurations for these purposes can be an expensive, time consuming activity that becomes a pacing item in the development and operation of such new systems. The use of an integrated tool such as ATTDES significantly reduces the effort and time required for these tasks.

Mackison, Donald L.↗

TRMM Re-Entry Planning: Attitude Determination and Control During Thruster Modes

The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) spacecraft has been undergoing design for a controlled re-entry to Earth. During simulation of the re-entry plan, there was evidence of errors in the attitude determination algorithms during thruster modes. These errors affected the bum efficiency, and thus planning, during re-entry. During thruster modes, the spacecraft attitude is controlled off of integrated Gyro Error Angles that were designed to closely follow the nominal spacecraft pointing frame (Tip Frame). These angles, however, were not exactly mapped to the Tip Frame from the Body Frame. Additionally, in the initial formulation of the thruster mode attitude determination algorithms, several assumptions and approximations were made to conserve processor speed. These errors became noticeable and significant when simulating bums of much longer duration (-10 times) than had been produced in flight. A solution is proposed that uses attitude determination information from a propagated extended Kalman filter that already exists in the TRMM thruster modes. This attitude information is then used to rotate the Gyro Error Angles into the Tip Frame. An error analysis is presented that compares the two formulations. The new algorithm is tested using the TRMM High-Fidelity Simulator and verified with the TRMM Software Testing and Training Facility. Simulation results for both configurations are also presented.

DeWeese, Keith↗

Optimal control theory determination of feasible return-to-launch-site aborts for the HL-20 Personnel Launch System vehicle

The personnel launch system (PLS) being studied by NASA is a system to complement the space shuttle and provide alternative access to space. The PLS consists of a manned spacecraft launched by an expendable launch vehicle (ELV). A candidate for the manned spacecraft is the HL-20 lifting body. In the event of an ELV malfunction during the initial portion of the ascent trajectory, the HL-20 will separate from the rocket and perform an unpowered return to launch site (RTLS) abort. This work details an investigation, using optimal control theory, of the RTLS abort scenario. The objective of the optimization was to maximize final altitude. With final altitude as the cost function, the feasibility of an RTLS abort at different times during the ascent was determined. The method of differential inclusions was used to determine the optimal state trajectories, and the optimal controls were then calculated from the optimal states and state rates.

Dutton, Kevin E.↗

Two Axis Pointing System (TAPS) attitude acquisition, determination, and control

The Two Axis Pointing System (TAPS) is a 2 axis gimbal system designed to provide fine pointing of Space Transportation System (STS) borne instruments. It features center-of-mass instrument mounting and will accommodate instruments of up to 1134 kg (2500 pounds) which fit within a 1.0 by 1.0 by 4.2 meter (40 by 40 by 166 inch) envelope. The TAPS system is controlled by a microcomputer based Control Electronics Assembly (CEA), a Power Distribution Unit (PDU), and a Servo Control Unit (SCU). A DRIRU-II inertial reference unit is used to provide incremental angles for attitude propagation. A Ball Brothers STRAP star tracker is used for attitude acquisition and update. The theory of the TAPS attitude determination and error computation for the Broad Band X-ray Telescope (BBXRT) are described. The attitude acquisition is based upon a 2 star geometric solution. The acquisition theory and quaternion algebra are presented. The attitude control combines classical position, integral and derivative (PID) control with techniques to compensate for coulomb friction (bias torque) and the cable harness crossing the gimbals (spring torque). Also presented is a technique for an adaptive bias torque compensation which adjusts to an ever changing frictional torque environment. The control stability margins are detailed, with the predicted pointing performance, based upon simulation studies. The TAPS user interface, which provides high level operations commands to facilitate science observations, is outlined.

Azzolini, John D.↗

Precision attitude determination and control using gyros and earth sensor

A novel scheme to estimate the biases present in the gyros and the attitude of three-axis stabilized earth pointing spacecraft using the outputs of gyros and earth sensor is presented. The earth sensor pitch output is averaged every orbit to provide pitch gyro bias correction. Roll and yaw gyro biases are determined by averaging the earth sensor roll output every quarter orbit and suitably combining the four quarter orbit averages obtained in each orbit. Yaw attitude information is also required once every orbit. Simulation studies including error sources due to earth sensor, gyros, yaw sensor and horizon radiance uncertainty in the winter poles showed that attitude determination accuracy of 0.01-0.03 deg (3 sigma) can be achieved about all the axes.

Rajaram, S.↗

Infrared horizon sensor modeling for attitude determination and control - Analysis and mission experience

This paper summarizes the work of the Flight Dynamics Division of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration/Goddard Space Flight Center in analyzing and evaluating the performance of a variety of infrared horizon sensors on 12 spaceflight missions from 1973 to 1984. Earth infrared radiance modeling, using the LOWTRAN 5 Program, and the Horizon Radiance Modeling Utility are also described. Mission data are presented for Magsat and the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite, with analysis to assess the sensor modeling as well as cloud and sun interference effects. Recommendations are made regarding future directions for the infrared horizon technology.

Singhal, S. P.↗

A combined Earth scanner and momentum wheel for attitude determination and control of small spacecraft

In order to satisfy the stringent cost and power requirements of small satellites, an advanced SCANWHEEL was designed, built, and qualified by ITHACO, Inc. The T-SCANWHEEL is a modular momentum/reaction wheel with an integral conical Earth scanner. The momentum wheel provides momentum bias and control torques about the pitch axis of a spacecraft. An angled scan mirror coupled to the rotating shaft of the momentum wheel provides a conical scan of the field-of-view of an infrared sensor to provide pitch-and-roll attitude information. By using the same motor and bearings for the momentum wheel and Earth scanner, the overall power consumption is reduced and the system reliability is enhanced. The evolution of the T-SCANWHEEL is presented, including design ground rules, tradeoff analyses, and performance results.

Bialke, Bill↗

Determining and controlling the electromagnetic environment for Space Station Freedom

Critical issues facing the SSF electromagnetic compatibility community are discussed focusing on effective utilization of SSF resources to perform overall SSF verification. Attention is also given to management and phases of an Electromagnetic Environment Effects Control Program (EEECP) aimed at producing an electromagnetically compatible station.

Pearson, S. D.↗

Determination and Control of Optical and X-Ray Wave Fronts

A successful design of a space-based or ground optical system requires an iterative procedure which includes the kinematics and dynamics of the system in operating environment, control synthesis and verification. To facilitate the task of designing optical wave front control systems being developed at NASA/MSFC, a multi-discipline dynamics and control tool has been developed by utilizing TREETOPS, a multi-body dynamics and control simulation, NASTRAN and MATLAB. Dynamics and control models of STABLE and ARIS were developed for TREETOPS simulation, and their simulation results are documented in this report.

Kim, Young K.↗

Attitude Determination and Control Systems

The importance of accurately pointing spacecraft to our daily lives is pervasive, yet somehow escapes the notice of most people. In this section, we will summarize the processes and technologies used in designing and operating spacecraft pointing (i.e. attitude) systems.

Starin, Scott R.↗