METHOD OF CONTROLLING ORIENTATION OF SPACECRAFT WITH INERTIAL ACTUATORS IN ATMOSPHERIC SOUNDING Russian patent published in 2009 - IPC B64G1/00 

FIELD: aircraft engineering.

SUBSTANCE: proposed method of controlling orientation of spacecraft (SC) incorporating inertial actuators for sounding the Earth atmosphere relates to aerospace engineering. The method comprises navigation measurements, turning the spacecraft until its minimum moment of inertia (MMI) gets aligned with the orbit plane and subsequent SC stabilisation in inertial system of coordinates (ISC). Note that, in compliance with this invention, the spacecraft orbit altitude is measured for angular half-opening of the Earth disk (Q) visible from the orbit along with the angle of elevation of atmospheric layer top boundary above the Earth horizon (ε) visible from the orbit. Also, the spacecraft orbital motion angular velocity (ω) is measured, the spacecraft is turned about the MMI axis until the sounding instrument sighting axis gets aligned with the SC orbit plane, the SC MMI axis making and angle, with the SC orbit plane, equal to or exceeding the Q angle. Finally, the spacecraft is stabilised in ISC. Additional atmospheric sounding comprises the sounding with spacecraft turning about the MMI axis and sounding in spacecraft inertial stabilisation.

EFFECT: increased sounding data comprehension at smaller power losses.

5 dwg