21st Congress of International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences, Melbourne, Australia, 13-18 September, 1998
Paper ICAS-98-1.3.4

A PASSIVE AERODYNAMIC STABILIZATION SYSTEM OF SATELLITES FOR LOW EARTH ORBIT: AN ANALYTICAL APPROACH

Sarychev V. A., Camelier I. A.*, Paglione P.*
Keldysh Institute, Russia & University of Beira Interior, Portugal; * University of Beira Interior, Portugal

Keywords: satellite, low earth orbit, aerodynamic stabilization

For satellites launched into relatively low circular orbit aerodynamic stabilization can be used. It orients the satellite's longitudinal axis along its velocity vector. The purpose of this paper consists of the investigation of the attitude motion of the satellite-rigid body under the action of gravitational and aerodynamic torques. Main directions of study: nonlinear equations of satellite attitude motion, equilibrium orientations of satellite in general case, equilibrium orientations of satellite in special cases.

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