Stabilization of a programmed rotation mode for a satellite with electrodynamic attitude control system

• Published in: Advances in space research 2018-07, Vol.62 (1), p.142-151
• Main Authors: Aleksandrov, A.Yu, Aleksandrova, E.B., Tikhonov, A.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Asymptotic stability; Attitude motion; Biaxial rotation; Satellite; Stabilization
• ISSN: 0273-1177; 1879-1948
• DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2018.04.006

•Electrodynamic attitude control providing satellite stabilization in biaxial rotation mode is proposed.•Asymptotic stability of the satellite programmed rotation is proved.•Gravitational disturbing torque acting on satellite dynamics is taken into account. The paper deals with a dynamically symmetric satellite in a circular near-Earth orbit. The satellite is equipped with an electrodynamic attitude control system based on Lorentz and magnetic torque properties. The programmed satellite attitude motion is such that the satellite slowly rotates around the axis of its dynamical symmetry. Unlike previous publications, we consider more complex and practically more important case where the axis is fixed in the orbital frame in an inclined position with respect to the local vertical axis. The satellite stabilization in the programmed attitude motion is studied. The gravitational disturbing torque acting on the satellite attitude dynamics is taken into account since it is the largest disturbing torque. The novelty of the proposed approach is based on the usage of electrodynamic attitude control system. With the aid of original construction of a Lyapunov function, new conditions under which electrodynamic control solves the problem are obtained. Sufficient conditions for asymptotic stability of the programmed motion are found in terms of inequalities for the values of control parameters. The results of a numerical simulation are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.