An Offset Thruster Roll/Yaw Control System for the Satellite in Mid-Altitude Orbits

Summary The paper presents a new, biased-momentum-type 3-axis attitude-control system for controlling satellites in mid-altitude, arbitrary-latitude orbits. This system uses a variable-level magnetic torquer to apply a constant magnetic moment in the pitch direction, and an offset thruster system to control roll and yaw by cancelling out the effect of nodal regression of orbit, thereby achieving precise control without the need for a yaw sensor. In the course of this work, root locus analysis was used in selecting the main parameters for the control system, and on the basis of values refined through simulation, a substantially complete design method was established.