Some Aspects of the Dynamics and Stability of Spinning Flexible Spacecraft.

Abstract : The hybrid coordinate approach combines discrete coordinates describing the translations and rotations of some bodies or reference frames of the system with distributed or modal coordinates describing the small relative motions of other parts of the system. This approach is illustrated by application to a simplified spinning spacecraft system. The example illustrates many features of flexural systems engaged in spin. The origins of specific terms in the dynamical equations and their anticipated effects on dynamics are discussed. Literal stability criteria for the wobble motions of a simplified spacecraft system are developed. These criteria can be used to duplicate results of previously published studies involving considerably more sophisticated models as a point of departure. The stability criteria can be of value in preliminary design but are not intended to supplant more detailed followup studies to verify ultimate system stability. (Author)