AAS 97-657
EFFECTS OF THRUST MISALIGNMENTS ON ORBIT TRANSFERS
D. Levy de Figueiredo Rodrigues and M. Lopes de Oliveira e Souza - Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais, Brazil
Abstract
In orbit transfers, the thrust vector must follow an orientation determined by some particular strategy. However, a disturbing torque appears during the propulsion due to unintentional misalignments of the thrust axis with respect to the center of mass. The present paper makes a simplified analytical study of the disturbing torque influences on the trajectory of the center of mass, in the absence of active attitude control. Some conclusions are drawn from this study, for example, the maximum time of propulsion actuation such as to reduce the undesirable effects.