Title: Methods of the analysis of motion of small space vehicles around the centre of masses at deployment of space tether system

Authors: Yuriy Zabolotnov; Oleg Naumov

Addresses: Department of Software Systems, Faculty of Computer Science, The Samara Sate Aerospace University (National Research University), 34 Moscow Highway, Samara, The Samara Region, The Russian Federation ' Department of Software Systems, Faculty of Computer Science, The Samara Sate Aerospace University (National Research University), 34 Moscow Highway, Samara, The Samara Region, The Russian Federation

Abstract: This paper studies analytical and numerical methods of the analysis of spatial motion concerning centre of mass of small space vehicles at deployment of space tether system. Deployment of space tether system is executed from the base space vehicle. The set angular orientation of the base space vehicle concerning a local vertical is provided by means of own system of stabilisation. The small space vehicle (or freight) represents a descent capsule returned to the Earth or the space vehicle transferred into higher orbit. It is supposed that the weight of the base space vehicle is much more than weight of freight. The angular position of freight is described by classical Euler's angles determined concerning a direction of a tether. Analytical methods of the analysis of angular motion are based on an averaging method (for small angles of nutation) and on a method integral of manifolds which allows to investigate the nonlinear equations of angular motion of freight. The major factors influencing stability of angular motion of freight concerning a direction of a tether are considered. Results of numerical modelling of angular motion of the small space vehicle are presented.

Keywords: small space vehicles; space tether systems; STS deployment; averaging method; stability; disturbances; spacecraft motion; centre of mass; angular motion; freight; numerical simulation; modelling.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSPACESE.2014.066964

International Journal of Space Science and Engineering, 2014 Vol.2 No.4, pp.305 - 326

Received: 26 Aug 2014
Accepted: 01 Sep 2014
Published online: 24 Jan 2015 *