Abstract
This chapter describes the flight dynamics system of a satellite platform divided into attitude and orbit control.
The section about the orbital aspects has two parts. The first one addresses theoretical aspects and gives an overview over the methods used to describe a satellite orbit, the orbit perturbations, orbit maneuvers, and orbit maintenance. These topics are important for the understanding and successful performing of flight dynamics operations, which are presented in the second part.
The section about spacecraft attitude starts with an introduction to Methods used for description of the spacecraft attitude including the use of so-called quaternions. After a brief section about “disturbances” affecting the attitude, the determination, propagation, and control of a spacecraft attitude are described. Finally, the tasks of an Attitude and Orbit Control Systems are described including some examples.
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Notes
- 1.
The single rotation axis is an eigenvector of the direction cosine matrix A; for example, A∙r x = r x , when r x is the rotation axis.
- 2.
Properties of the two GRACE satellites (Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment) launched in 2002.
- 3.
Aberration is the apparent displacement of a star due to the motion of the observer; for a satellite moving at a velocity v with respect to the fixed stars the displacement ≈v/c sinφ, where c is the velocity of light and φ denotes the angle between motion and star direction.
- 4.
Another satellite, a comet, an asteroid or meteoroid could transitorily be identified as a star. Blinding could lead to afterglow on one or more pixels with the same result.
- 5.
Right ascension is measured along the Earth’s equator towards the East; zero point is the direction of the vernal equinox at the specified epoch. Declination is measured perpendicular to the equator and is positive towards the North.
- 6.
TerraSAR-X, TanDEM-X, and PAZ are all build like that.
References
References to Sect. 4.1
Montenbruck O., Gill E.; Satellite Orbits – Models, Methods, and Applications; Springer, Heidelberg (2000)
Vallado D.A.; Fundamentals of Astrodynamics and Applications; 2nd ed.; Space Technology Library, Kluwer Academic Publishers; Dordrecht (2001)
References to Sect. 4.2
d’Amico, S.: 2002, “Attitude and orbital simulation in support of space mission operations: the GRACE formation flying”; Master Thesis, Politecnico di Milano
Arbinger, C., Luebke-Ossenbeck, B.: 2006, Chapter 4.5 „Lageregelung“ in „Handbuch der Raumfahrttechnik“, editors W. Ley, K. Wittmann, W. Hallmann; Carl Hanser Verlag GmbH & Co. KG
Larson, W.J., Wertz, J.R. (editors): 1992, “Space Mission Analysis and Design”; Kluwer Academic Publishers
Seidelmann, P.K. (editor): 1992, „Explanatory Supplement to the Astronomical Almanac“, University Science Books, New York
Sidi, M.J.: 1997, „Spacecraft Dynamics and Control“; Cambridge University Press
Wertz, J.R. (editor): 1978, “Spacecraft Attitude Determination and Control”; Kluwer Academic Publishers
Wiesel, W.E.: 1997, “Spaceflight Dynamics”; the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
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Kirschner, M., Herman, J., Kahle, R. (2015). Flight Dynamic Operations. In: Uhlig, T., Sellmaier, F., Schmidhuber, M. (eds) Spacecraft Operations. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-1803-0_4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-1803-0_4
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