MOMENTUM TRANSFER AS A MEANS OF DESPINNING A ROTATING SPACECRAFT.

Abstract

The angular rate of a rotating spacecraft can be reduced by transferring momentum from the spacecraft body to a pair of masses attached to cables wrapped around it. The cables unwind and retard spin with a counteracting couple. Under the proper conditions, spin can be reduced to zero; this is found to be independent of initial spin rate. Detaching the cables at this instant leaves the spacecraft motionless. Residual spin due to tolerance accumulation can be minimized by releasing cables when radial rather than tangent to the spacecraft. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1967
Accession Number
AD0651004

Entities

People

  • J. F. Smola

Organizations

  • Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Momentum
  • Momentum Transfer
  • Residuals
  • Spacecraft

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Control Systems Engineering.
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Spacecraft Maneuvers