MAGNETIC UNLOADING OF SPACECRAFT FLYWHEEL ENGINES Russian patent published in 2015 - IPC B64C1/32 

FIELD: engines and pumps.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to spacecraft orientation control. Claimed process consists in that at exceeded critical level of accumulated kinetic moment of flywheel engines the spacecraft is turned thereby around two mutually perpendicular spacecraft axes. This done to make the flywheel engine axis with lower accumulated kinetic potential aligned with external magnetic (geomagnetic) field induction vector. Magnetic system is arrested while the moment developed at interaction between said magnetic system and said external magnetic field are used for zeroing of kinetic moment of flywheel engines located in the plane perpendicular to said external magnetic (geomagnetic) field induction vector. After zeroing of kinetic moment of flywheel engines said magnetic system is released while spacecraft is returned to the reference coordinate system, or a new turn is performed to release said kinetic moment with axis aligned with said external magnetic (geomagnetic) field induction vector.

EFFECT: simplified process, higher reliability of magnetic unloading.

2 cl, 3 dwg