METHOD OF ORIENTATION OF SPACECRAFT Russian patent published in 2020 - IPC B64G1/24 

FIELD: astronautics.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to control of orientation of spacecrafts (SC) with solar panels (SP). Method includes orientation of the SC relative to the direction to the Sun using an additional autonomous control circuit (ACC) connected in violation of the said SC orientation. SP is fixed relative to the housing SC. When entering the shadow section of the orbit from the serviceable on-board computer (OBC), the maximum duration of this section is started. After exiting from the shadow section in case of OBC fault by the timer signal, the SC is switched to the ACC mode, and if the OBC is OK, the timer is switched off. Timer is started from pulse signal of terminator or according to information from OBC. At fixed SP for their orientation to Sun SC is introduced into passive spin mode. At negative energy balance in case of loss of SP orientation to the Sun, economical mode of accumulator batteries operation is used.

EFFECT: technical result is high reliability and survivability of SC with provision of stable power supply during the whole period of SC active existence.

1 cl, 1 dwg