Effect of crew motions on spacecraft orientation
On-off control system with crew motion caused random disturbing torques on spacecraft, determining waiting time, jet firing frequency and fuel consumption rate
Armstrong, R. L.↗
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CMG assembly life test and engineering evaluation test, M-509 experiment
The initial checkout of the control moment gyro system for the astronaut stabilizer maneuvering unit is described, and the test results are presented. The life test proceeded smoothly to its completion, and problem areas encountered in the engineering tests are described. These tests included command rate and torquer current transfer, cage and lock, static inverter and signal noise, dynamic response, closed loop drift rate, and gimbal disturbance torque evaluation tests.
Cramer, P. S.↗
Inertial navigation system using three TDF gyroscopic sensors not jointly mounted on a stable platform
An inertial navigation system is described and analyzed based on two two-degree-of-freedom Schuler-gyropendulums and one two-degree-of-freedom azimuth gyro. The three sensors, each base motion isolated about its two input axes, are mounted on a common base, strapped down to the vehicle. The up and down pointing spin vectors of the two properly tuned gyropendulums track the vertical and indicate physically their velocity with respect to inertial space. The spin vector of the azimuth gyro is pointing northerly parallel to the earth axis. The system can be made self-aligning on a stationary base. If external measurements for the north direction and the vertical are available, initial disturbance torques can be measured and easily biased out. The error analysis shows that the system is practicable with today's technology.
Stieler, B.↗
A description of the thruster attitude control simulation and its application to the HEAO-C study
During the design and evaluation of a reaction control system (RCS), it is desirable to have a digital computer program simulating vehicle dynamics, disturbance torques, control torques, and RCS logic. The thruster attitude control simulation (TACS) is just such a computer program. The TACS is a relatively sophisticated digital computer program that includes all the major parameters involved in the attitude control of a vehicle using an RCS for control. It includes the effects of gravity gradient torques and HEAO-C aerodynamic torques so that realistic runs can be made in the areas of fuel consumption and engine actuation rates. Also, the program is general enough that any engine configuration and logic scheme can be implemented in a reasonable amount of time. The results of the application of the TACS in the HEAO-C study are included.
Brandon, L. B.↗
Oil-film-parameter investigation
A counter rotating fixture was designed and built to measure starved EHD film thicknesses. Some good geometry glass races were obtained. A theoretical analysis of starvation was made. Measurements of retainer stability during bimode torque disturbances were made. The most common form of bimode was related to stability of retainer cock.
Kingsbury, E. P.↗
A flight simulator for advanced aircraft - Servo design to realization.
Discussion of computer-aided design results obtained for a moving-base, three-man flight simulator. From a control viewpoint, the structure is discussed in terms of disturbance torques, damping ratios, natural frequencies, load acceleration, and smoothness. The use of inertia to achieve well-behaved structural transfer functions and smooth or high fidelity load accelerations is demonstrated. Transfer functions in the complex frequency domain, as well as time-dependent solutions to the system, are derived. The relative merits of using position and/or velocity as primary feedback, for a limited travel acceleration device, are discussed. Root locus plots, which were utilized in the control-system design, Bode plots, and time-dependent plots are drawn. In addition, the theoretical ratio of velocity to commanded input Bode plot is compared to the experimental results, and the dramatic effect on the load smoothness plot caused by selecting velocity over position as primary feedback is shown.
King, R. F.↗
Passive dual spin misalignment compensators
A combination dual-spin gyroscopically stabilized device is described having a spinning rotor and a non-spinning platform. Two substantially lossless mechanical resonators, resonant at the spin frequency, are orthogonally positioned on the platform for compensation for the disturbing torque acting on the platform due to rotor misalignment.
Donohue, J. H.↗
Multimode attitude and orbit control for the Atmosphere Explorer spacecraft
The orbit profile for the Atmosphere Explorer requires a velocity adjust capability of 2000 ft/sec/sec and individual maneuvers of up to 24 ft/sec in magnitude. This requirement is met by a monopropellant hydrazine propulsion subsystem which also provides, by virtue of the tank arrangement, a means of adjusting the spacecraft center of mass in orbit, thereby minimizing external disturbance torques. The attitude control subsystem is of the momentum bias type. A large internal flywheel furnishes gyroscopic stiffness and permits rapid changes in operating mode (despun to spinning mode) by controlled interchange of momentum between the flywheel and the spacecraft main body.
Stewart, B.↗
Magnetic attitude control system for dual-spin satellites
A closed-loop control law is developed for a dual-spin satellite control system which utilizes the interaction of the geomagnetic field with the satellite dipole parallel to the spin axis. The control law consists of the linear combination of the pitch axis component of the rate of change of the geomagnetic field and the product of the roll angle and roll axis component of the geomagnetic field. Application of the method of multiple time scales yields approximate solutions for the feedback gains in terms of the system parameters. Approximate solutions are also obtained for the response of the system to disturbance torques. A comparison of the approximate solutions and numerical solutions obtained by numerical integration of the exact equations of motion is then given.
Alfriend, K. T.↗
Orbital construction demonstration study. Volume 2: Technical
The following items are discussed in reference to OCDA requirements; (1) flight mechanics and control, (2) effects of sun angle, (3) disturbance torques, (4) control system requirements, (5) OCDA orbit decay profile, and (6) aerodynamic drag forces. Structural design requirements are also given as well as basic design definition.
Source record↗
Ion engine auxiliary propulsion applications and integration study
The benefits derived from application of the 8-cm mercury electron bombardment ion thruster were assessed. Two specific spacecraft missions were studied. A thruster was tested to provide additional needed information on its efflux characteristics and interactive effects. A Users Manual was then prepared describing how to integrate the thruster for auxiliary propulsion on geosynchronous satellites. By incorporating ion engines on an advanced communications mission, the weight available for added payload increases by about 82 kg (181 lb) for a 100 kg (2200 lb) satellite which otherwise uses electrothermal hydrazine. Ion engines can be integrated into a high performance propulsion module that is compatible with the multimission modular spacecraft and can be used for both geosynchronous and low earth orbit applications. The low disturbance torques introduced by the ion engines permit accurate spacecraft pointing with the payload in operation during thrusting periods. The feasibility of using the thruster's neutralizer assembly for neutralization of differentially charged spacecraft surfaces at geosynchronous altitude was demonstrated during the testing program.
S. Zafran↗
Control system technology and tradeoffs for large space structures
The role of the control system in large space structure design is examined. It is pointed out that control and dynamics aspects of the structure must be considered very early in the design. Innovative techniques will be needed, such as on-orbit dynamic testing, offsetting of disturbance torques, and advances in the analysis area, particularly with respect to system modeling and achieving a tractable dimension of the problem. The technology pursued, while necessarily being focused, must not be too narrow, but should be concerned with the multidisciplinary aspects of large space structures.
Blair, J. C.↗
An interactive computer program for sizing spacecraft momentum storage devices
An interactive computer program was developed which computes the sizing requirements for nongimbled reaction wheels, control moment gyros (CMG), and dual momentum control devices (DMCD) used in Earth-orbiting spacecraft. The program accepts as inputs the spacecraft's environmental disturbance torques, rotational inertias, maneuver rates, and orbital data. From these inputs, wheel weights are calculated for a range of radii and rotational speeds. The shape of the momentum wheel may be chosen to be either a hoop, solid cylinder, or annular cylinder. The program provides graphic output illustrating the trade-off potential between the weight, radius, and wheel speed. A number of the intermediate calculations such as the X-, Y-, and Z-axis total momentum, the momentum absorption requirements for reaction wheels, CMG's, DMCD's, and basic orbit analysis information are also provided as program output.
Wilcox, F. J., Jr.↗
Generic aerocapture atmospheric entry study, volume 1
An atmospheric entry study to fine a generic aerocapture vehicle capable of missions to Mars, Saturn, and Uranus is reported. A single external geometry was developed through atmospheric entry simulations. Aerocapture is a system design concept which uses an aerodynamically controlled atmospheric entry to provide the necessary velocity depletion to capture payloads into planetary orbit. Design concepts are presented which provide the control accuracy required while giving thermal protection for the mission payload. The system design concepts consist of the following elements: (1) an extendable biconic aerodynamic configuration with lift to drag ratio between 1.0 and 2.0; (2) roll control system concepts to control aerodynamic lift and disturbance torques; (3) aeroshell design concepts capable of meeting dynamic pressure loads during aerocapture; and (4) entry thermal protection system design concepts to meet thermodynamic loads during aerocapture.
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The dynamics and control of large flexible space structures-IV
The effects of solar radiation pressure as the main environmental disturbance torque were incorporated into the model of the rigid orbiting shallow shell and computer simulation results indicate that within the linear range the rigid modal amplitudes are excited in proportion to the area to mass ratio. The effect of higher order terms in the gravity-gradient torque expressions previously neglected was evaluated and found to be negligible for the size structures under consideration. A graph theory approach was employed for calculating the eigenvalues of a large flexible system by reducing the system (stiffness) matrix to lower ordered submatrices. The related reachability matrix and term rank concepts are used to verify controllability and can be more effective than the alternate numerical rank tests. Control laws were developed for the shape and orientation control of the orbiting flexible shallow shell and numerical results presented.
Bainum, P. M.↗
Design aspects of a solar array drive for spot, with a high platform stability objective
A solar array drive mechanism (MEGS) for the SPOT platform, which is a prototype of a multimission platform, is described. High-resolution cameras and other optical instruments are carried by the platform, requiring excellent platform stability in order to obtain high-quality pictures. Therefore, a severe requirement for the MEGS is the low level of disturbing torques it may generate considering the 0.6 times 10 to the minus 3 power deg/sec stability required. The mechanical design aspects aiming at reducing the mean friction torque, and therefore its fluctuations, are described as well as the method of compensation of the motor imperfections. It was concluded, however, that this is not sufficient to reach the stability requirement.
Cabillic, J.↗
Performance interface document for users of Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) electromechanically steered antenna systems (EMSAS)
Satellites that use the NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) require antennas that are crucial for performing and achieving reliable TDRSS link performance at the desired data rate. Technical guidelines are presented to assist the prospective TDRSS medium-and high-data rate user in selecting and procuring a viable, steerable high-gain antenna system. Topics addressed include the antenna gain/transmitter power/data rate relationship; Earth power flux-density limitations; electromechanical requirements dictated by the small beam widths, desired angular coverage, and minimal torque disturbance to the spacecraft; weight and moment considerations; mechanical, electrical and thermal interfaces; design lifetime failure modes; and handling and storage. Proven designs are cited and space-qualified assemblies and components are identified.
Hockensmith, R.↗
The dynamics and control of large flexible space structures, part 7
A preliminary Eulerian formulation of the in-plane dynamics of the proposed spacecraft control laboratory experiment configuration is undertaken when the mast is treated as a cantilever type beam and the reflector as a lumped mass at the end of the beam. Frequency and mode shapes are obtained for the open loop model of the beam system and the stability of closed loop control systems is analyzed by both frequency and time domain techniques. Environmental disturbances due to solar radiation pressure are incorporated into models of controlled large flexible orbiting platforms. Thermally induced deformations of simple beam and platform type structures are modelled and expressions developed for the disturbance torques resulting from the interaction of solar radiation pressure. Noise effects in the deterministic model of the hoop/column antenna system are found to cause a degradation in system performance. Appropriate changes in the ratio of plant noise to the measurement noise and/or changes in the control weighting matrix elements can improve transient and steady state performance.
Bainum, P. M.↗