Open AccessAttitude stabilization of a rotating spacecraft with flexible elements and a magnetohydrodynamic control system
Author(s) -
Rabinovich Boris,
Grishin Alexey
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of structural control
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1538-523X
pISSN - 1122-8385
DOI - 10.1002/stc.15
Subject(s) - spacecraft , magnetohydrodynamic drive , magnetohydrodynamics , rotation (mathematics) , angular velocity , hinge , physics , instability , attitude control , aerospace engineering , control theory (sociology) , control (management) , computer science , mechanics , classical mechanics , engineering , magnetic field , astronomy , quantum mechanics , artificial intelligence
Rotating spacecraft with flexible spike antennas located along their rotation axis can be seriously affected by instability problems. The Auroral Probe of the INTERBALL Project is a typical example of such an object. It is shown that magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) elements may be effectively applied for control of the spacecraft. In particular, by using MHD elements it is possible to stabilize the rotation of a spacecraft without reducing its angular velocity. It is important that the MHD control system does not have hinges and does not need any special fuel storage. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.