METHOD OF CONTROLLING SPACECRAFT EQUIPPED WITH MULTI-NOZZLE PROPULSION SYSTEM Russian patent published in 2017 - IPC B64G1/26 

FIELD: physics, control and signalling.

SUBSTANCE: invention relate to controlling movement of spacecraft using a multi-nozzle jet propulsion system. The method enables to adjust the spacecraft orbit by applying the resultant thrust vector of the propulsion system to its body and includes determining throttling coefficients for calculating thrust of each of the three or more engine nozzles. The propulsion system is controlled using a timed operating mode, which comprises breaking down the entire manoeuvring interval into combustion stokes, in each of which throttling coefficients are calculated based on a given value of the average thrust of the propulsion system and the required action on the spacecraft for compensating for accumulation of its kinematic momentum on axes perpendicular to the resultant thrust vector.

EFFECT: invention is characterised by the possibility of maintaining given average thrust, increasing the allowable duration of operation of the propulsion system without loss of accuracy of orientation of the spacecraft and increasing efficiency of fuel consumption on the spacecraft manoeuvring task.

4 cl, 2 tbl, 7 dwg