Airbus Defence and Space Sas

Valerio Moro

Philippe Laurens

Nicolas Cuilleron

Jean Fischer

A method of controlling the attitude of a spacecraft in spinning around itself with a non-zero total angular momentum H. The spacecraft includes a set of inertia flywheels configured to form an internal angular momentum H. The axis of the total angular momentum His aligned with a principal axis of inertia of the spacecraft, in the course of which the inertia flywheels are controlled to form an internal angular momentum H. The following expression, in which J is the inertia matrix of the spacecraft:()is negative if the principal axis of inertia targeted is the axis of maximum inertia of the spacecraft and is positive if the principal axis inertia targeted is the axis of minimum inertia of the spacecraft.

Method and device for controlling attitude of a spacecraft

A method for controlling the orbit of a satellite in earth orbit. The orbit of the satellite is controlled by commanding, according to a maneuver plan, a propulsion system having at least one thruster and a transporter to move the propulsion system. The maneuver plan includes at least two orbit-control maneuvers. The thrust powers of the propulsion system during the two orbit control maneuvers have respective thrust directions that are not parallel in an inertial frame of reference. Each thrust power is determined to simultaneously control the inclination and the position of the orbit of the satellite as well as to form a momentum that is suitable for unloading a device for storing angular momentum of the satellite in a plane orthogonal to the direction of thrust of the thrust power.

Method and system for controlling the orbit of a satellite in earth orbit

A method of command of magneto-torquers of an attitude control system of a space vehicle subjected to an external magnetic field of variable direction. The magneto-torquers are configured to desaturate an angular momentum storage device by transferring angular momentum and configured to form, in cooperation with the local external magnetic field, magnetic couples in a plane orthogonal to the direction of the local external magnetic field or a local control plane. The magnetic couple to be formed in the local control plane is determined as a function of the component of a desired attitude control couple which is orthogonal to the local control plane or a locally uncontrollable component. The contribution of the locally uncontrollable component to the magnetic couple to be formed is non-zero when the locally uncontrollable component is non-zero.

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Toulouse, France

Valerio Moro