Method for controlling the attitude of a spinning body in orbit
Patent 4757964 Issued on July 19, 1988. Estimated Expiration Date: 
July 17, 2006. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.
July 17, 2006. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent References3271565 InventorApplicationNo. 06/886481 filed on 07/17/1986US Classes:244/164, Attitude control701/226Space orbits or pathsExaminersPrimary: Barefoot, Galen L.Attorney, Agent or FirmInternational ClassesG05D 1/08 (20060101)B64G 1/24 (20060101) B64G 1/28 (20060101) AbstractA method for passively stabilizing the attitude of a spinning orbiting body subject to orbital precession to maintain the spin axis orientation of the body essentially fixed and stable relative to the orbital plane. The preferred embodiment comprises selecting a body mass geometry and orbital parameters, including an orbit inclination, an orbital rate and a rate of regression of orbit line of nodes, so that the precessional motion of the body and the orbit are equal and opposite in direction and locating the spin axis of the body in a plane containing the north axis of the body and the orbit normal and between the north axis and the orbit normal, so that the gravity gradient precession of the spin axis equals the regressional motion of the orbit normal to produce a planar equilibrium configuration.Other References
Field of SearchAttitude control | |
