METHOD OF ORIENTING SPACE VEHICLE AXES INTO ORBITAL SYSTEM OF COORDINATES Russian patent published in 2010 - IPC B64G1/24 

FIELD: transport.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to systems designed to control space vehicle motion around its center of mass. Proposed method consists in that space vehicle orbit parametres are entered into onboard computer prior to orienting space vehicle axes into orbital (moving) system of coordinates. Search angular velocity is set for space vehicle for Sun capture by orientation instrument observation field. Angular velocity is reduced after Sun capture to maintain Sun in orientation instrument observation field. Angular velocity equal to angular velocity of revolution of orbital system of coordinates around its axis Z_OCK for orbit of this space vehicle is developed around one of space vehicle axes which should become perpendicular to the plane of orbit at the end of orientation. One and the same unit vector of direction to Sun in both systems of coordinates is used in automatic determination of misalignment angles between orbital and coupled axes. Two projections of said vector onto coupled axes are determined from measurements of the instrument of orientation to Sun, while third projection onto coupled axis of coordinates is defined proceeding from properties of this vector as a unit vector. Space vehicle orientation into orbital system of coordinates is completed by turning space vehicle around its two other coupled axes.

EFFECT: automatic determination of misalignment angles from measurements of direction to Sun by orienting space vehicle coupled axes into orbital system of coordinates on "sun" path of orbit.

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