Abstract AAS 97-681

AAS 97-681

DYNAMICS OF AN ASYMMETRIC SPACECRAFT: ANALYTIC STUDIES

S. Tanygin and T. Williams - University of Cincinnati

Abstract

This paper deals with the attitude dynamics of an asymmetric rigid spacecraft subject to torques that are not necessarily body-fixed. The new method is employed to analyze solutions of Euler's rotational equations of motion. It is based on defining several Lyapunov-like functions of two variables. Each of these functions is then analyzed, thus, producing a complete set of solution boundaries and describing the asymptotic motion in three dimensions. Results presented in this paper are derived analytically and, thus, are free of any assumptions depending on relative significance of perturbations.