AAS 97-680
LARGE ANGLE SOLUTIONS FOR A SPINNING RIGID BODY SUBJECT TO CONSTANT TRANSVERSE TORQUES
R.A. Beck and J.M. Longuski - Purdue University
Abstract
Development of analytic solutions for forced attitude motion of a rigid body is a formidable task because of the appearance of nonlinear differential kinematic equations when the problem is represented in terms of Eulerian angles. Recently, a new formulation has been introduced for the description of attitude kinematics, based on two perpendicular rotations. Here we analyze the problem of large angular excursions of the spin axis from an inertially fixed direction, using the new parameterization to provide closed-form analytic solutions for spacecraft attitude. Numerical simulations confirm that the solutions are highly accurate for typical maneuvers of the Galileo spacecraft.