METHOD OF ORBITAL SPACECRAFT ORIENTATION CONTROL WITH INERTIAL EFFECTORS DURING EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE PROBING Russian patent published in 2008 - IPC B64G1/28 B64G1/66 B64G1/44 

FIELD: technological processes.

SUBSTANCE: invention is related to the area of spacecraft (SC) control. Suggested method includes setting the viewing axis of probing instrument (PI) relative to construction lines of SC and SC rotation until PI viewing axis is aligned with direction to the Sun. Also SC is rotated until axis of its minimum moment of inertia is aligned with orbit plane. Height of SC orbit is measured, defining the angle values between direction to the Earth's centre and directions to the lower (λ₀) and upper borders of investigated atmosphere layer. Depending on this angles, PI viewing axis is set at certain angle (λ) to the axis of SC minimum moment of inertia to the side that corresponds to the highest illumination of SC sun batteries. This angle λ accounts for minimum mismatch between the current angle of SC minimum moment of inertia axis deviation from the local vertical line and angles of this axis deviation from local vertical line in the beginning and in the end of probing session. The angle is measured between direction to the Sun and SC orbit plane, and if it agrees with value of angle λ_0, then angle of the Sun elevation above the Earth's horizon visible from the SC. If the values of the latter angle are less or equal to angle of investigated atmosphere layer upper border elevation above the Earth's horizon visible from the SC, SC is turned until PI viewing axis is aligned with direction to the Sun. At that axis of SC minimum moment of inertia is aligned with the direction that lies in the orbit plane and forms a certain angle with projection of direction to the Sun to this plane, and this angle depends on above mentioned angles λ₀ and λ. Atmosphere probing is performed in the moments of the Sun setting behind the Earth's horizon visible from the SC, maintaining the constant orientation of the SC sequentially in orbital and inertial coordinated systems.

EFFECT: improves collection of information on the Earth's atmosphere probing with minimum power inputs on board of spacecraft.

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