Tethered Satellite System Stability

Abstract

Issues of stability of the Tethered Satellite System (TSS) during station-keeping, de- ployment and retrieval are considered. The basic nonlinear equations of motion of the TSS are derived using the system Lagrangian. Using the Hopf bifurcation theorem, tension control laws are established which guarantee the stability of the system during the station-keeping mode. A constant angle control method is hypothesized for subsatellite deployment and retrieval. It is proved that this control law results in stable deployment but unstable retrieval. An enhanced control law for deployment is also proposed, which entails use of the constant angle method followed by a station-keeping control law once the tether length is sufficiently near the desired value. Simulations are given to illustrate the conclusions.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1989
Accession Number
ADA454743

Entities

People

  • D. C. Liaw
  • Eyad H. Abed

Organizations

  • University of Maryland

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Availability
  • Classification
  • Computer Simulations
  • Contracts
  • Deployment
  • Equation-Based Simulations
  • Equations
  • Equations Of Motion
  • Guarantees
  • Information Operations
  • Instructions
  • Maryland
  • Molecular Dynamics
  • Simulations
  • Universities

Readers

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

Technology Areas

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