CONTROLLED ROTATION AND STABILIZATION FOR THE ORBITAL WORKER

Abstract

A self-maneuvering unit for an orbital worker who must perform maintenance, supply, and inspection tasks on or between space vehicles is discussed. One essential component of such a unit is a continuously acting stabilization system. This provides the worker with a stable self-oriented reference frame by which he may judge position, velocity, and acceleration. This type of stabilization can best be provided by momentum wheels which rotate uniformly in the manner of a gyroscope. Since a rotating wheel tends to remain in its plane of rotation in the absence of external forces, the capability for stabilization is provided. Likewise, since a rotating wheel tends to change its plane of rotation with the application of force moments (torques), the capability for controlled rotation is provided. This report serves to develop the principles of controlled rotation and incorporate them in a feasible stabilization-rotation system.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1962
Accession Number
AD0295627

Entities

People

  • Gerald Peoples
  • Philip V. Kulwicki

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Human Systems
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircrafts
  • Angular Momentum
  • Behavioral Sciences
  • Control Sticks
  • Coordinate Systems
  • Equations
  • Human Factors Engineering
  • Moment Of Inertia
  • Momentum
  • Pneumatic Equipment
  • Precession
  • Pressure Suits
  • Research Aircraft
  • Rotation
  • Spacecraft
  • Stabilization Systems
  • Vehicles

Readers

  • Control Systems Engineering.
  • Organizational Psychology.
  • Software Engineering

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris
  • Space - Spacecraft Maneuvers