AAS 96-163

DYNAMICS OF A SATELLITE RETRACTING A LONG ELASTIC APPENDAGE

S. Djerassi, Rafael

Abstract

This paper introduces a new method for the simulation of motions of a satellite which, while in motion, extrudes or retracts a long, elastic appendage. Here, account is taken of the undeployed part of the appendage which is assumed to be wrapped around a drum whose axis is fixed to the satellite. The new method is used to generate equations governing the motion of the entire system, coming to grips with the fact that the elastic properties of the deployed part of the appendage are time dependent. It is shown that, whereas the radius of the drum has a small effect on the dynamic behavior the satellite during deployment/retraction, the location of the centerpoint of the drum with respect to the mass center of the satellite is significant; and that a location can be found that will leave the orientation of the satellite during deployment/retraction practically intact.