AAS 98-141

OPTIMAL DESIGN OF A PASSIVE CONING ATTENUATOR FOR SPINNING SPACECRAFT UNDER THRUST

D. M. Halsmer, A. R. Fetter - Oral Roberts University

Abstract

A procedure for designing a one-dimensional passive coning attenuator for a symmetric, spinning spacecraft under thrust is described. General expressions for the optimal stiffness and damping constants are derived, as well as an expression for the relative stability. General expressions for the optimal particle mass and attenuator location are derived from a simplified expression for the relative stability. These results provide a quantitative measure of the maximum "strength" of a passive coning attenuator. This is useful in designing such a device to overcome destabilizing effects.

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