Article
Chaos in a Spacecraft Attitude Maneuver Due to Time-Periodic Perturbations
Journal of Applied Mechanics
(1996)
Abstract
We use Melnikov’s method to study the chaotic dynamics of an attitude transition maneuver of a torque-free rigid body in going from minor axis spin to major axis spin under the influence of small damping. The chaotic motion is due to the formation of Smale horseshoes which are caused by the oscillation of small subbodies inside the satellite. The equations of motion are derived and then transformed into a form suitable for the application of Melnikov’s method. An analytical criterion for chaotic motion is derived in terms of the system parameters. This criterion is evaluated for its significance to the design of artificial satellites.
Keywords
- Chaos,
- Space vehicles,
- Satellites,
- Particle spin,
- Motion,
- Equations of motion,
- Oscillations,
- Dynamics (Mechanics),
- Torque,
- Damping
Publication Date
June, 1996
DOI
10.1115/1.2788896
Publisher Statement
Copyright 1996 American Society of Mechanical Engineering. Posted with permission.
Citation Information
G. L. Gray, Ian Dobson and D. C. Kammer. "Chaos in a Spacecraft Attitude Maneuver Due to Time-Periodic Perturbations" Journal of Applied Mechanics Vol. 63 Iss. 2 (1996) p. 501 - 508 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/ian-dobson/6/