TECHNIQUES FOR EARTH-POINTING ATTITUDE CONTROL OF A SPACECRAFT.

Abstract

The paper surveys the attitude control techniques particularly applicable to earth-pointing spacecraft, covering horizon sensors and overall systems of the spinning, gravity-gradient, and fully stabilized varieties. Considerable attention is given to the gyrocompassing technique for spinning and fully stabilized vehicles. The paper was presented at the NATO Summer School on Earth Observation Satellites, Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, July 1969, and published in the Journal of the British Interplanetary Society. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1970
Accession Number
AD0711517

Entities

People

  • M. B. Barnes
  • W. G. Hughes

Organizations

  • Royal Aircraft Establishment

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artificial Satellites
  • Coverings
  • Earth Observation Satellites
  • Horizon Scanners
  • Observation
  • Satellite Buses
  • Space Objects
  • Space Systems
  • Spacecraft
  • Spacecraft Components
  • Vehicles

Readers

  • Inertial Navigation Systems.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.
  • Technical Research and Report Writing.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Satellites
  • Space - Spacecraft Maneuvers