• Transactions of the Korean Society of Machine Tool Engineers
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.64-70
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• 2003

A measurement of spacecraft alignment is an important process of spacecraft assembly, integration and test because it is necessary that a ground station controls the precise positions of on-orbit spacecraft by using the alignment data of attitude orbit control sensors(AOCS) on spacecraft. In addition, accuracy of spacecraft alignment requirement is about $0.1^{\circ}$~$0.7^{\circ}$. The spacecraft alignment is measured by autocollimation of theodolite. This paper describes the measurement principle and method of spacecraft alignment. The result shows that all of the AOCS on the spacecraft are aligned within the tolerance required through the alignment measurement.

• Advances in aircraft and spacecraft science
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.335-351
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• 2017

Kalman filter based spacecraft attitude estimation has been used in many space missions and has been widely discussed in literature. While some models in spacecraft attitude estimation include spacecraft dynamics, most do not. To our best knowledge, there is no comparison on which model is a better choice. In this paper, we discuss the reasons why spacecraft dynamics should be considered in the Kalman filter based spacecraft attitude estimation problem. We also propose a reduced quaternion spacecraft dynamics model which admits additive noise. Geometry of the reduced quaternion model and the additive noise are discussed. This treatment is easier in computation than the one with full quaternion. Simulations are conducted to verify our claims.

• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.67-75
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• 2007

An attitude control problem for a tethered spacecraft is studied. The tethered spacecraft is viewed as a multi-body spacecraft consisting of a base body, a massless tether that connects the base body and an end mass, and tether actuator dynamics. Moments about the pitch and roll axes of the base spacecraft arise by control of the point of attachment of the tether to the base spacecraft. The control objective is to stabilize the attitude of the base spacecraft while keeping the perturbations of the tether small. Analysis shows that linear equations of motion for the tethered spacecraft are not completely controllable. We study two different control design approaches: (1) we decouple the attitude dynamics from the tether dynamics and we design a linear feedback to achieve stabilization of the attitude dynamics, and (2) we decouple the controllable modes from the uncontrollable mode using Kalman decomposition and we design a linear feedback to achieve stabilization of the controllable modes. Simulation results show that, although it is difficult to control the tether, the tether motion can be maintained within an acceptable range while stabilizing the attitude dynamics of the base spacecraft.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.105-111
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• 2003

A measurement of spacecraft alignment is an important process of spacecraft assembly, integration and test. Because, it is necessary that a operator of a ground station controls the precise positions of on-orbit spacecraft by using the alignment data of attitude orbit control sensors(AOCS) on spacecraft. And, an accuracy of spacecraft alignment requirement is about $0.1^{\circ}{\sim}0.7^{\circ}$. A spacecraft alignment is measured by autocollimation of theodolite. This paper describes the measurement principle and method of spacecraft alignment. The result shows that all the AOCS on the spacecraft are aligned within the tolerance required through the alignment measurement.

• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.82-90
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• 2014

In this paper, the effect of Lorentz force on the stability of attitude orientation of a charged spacecraft moving in an elliptic orbit in the geomagnetic field is considered. Euler equations are used to derive the equations of attitude motion of a charged spacecraft. The equilibrium positions and its stability are investigated separately in the pitch, roll and yaw directions. In each direction, we use the Lorentz force to identify an attitude stabilization parameter. The analytical methods confirm that we can use the Lorentz force as a stabilization method. The charge-to-mass ratio is the main key of control, in addition to the components of the radius vector of the charged center of the spacecraft, relative to the center of mass of the spacecraft. The numerical results determine stable and unstable equilibrium positions. Therefore, in order to generate optimum charge, which may stabilize the attitude motion of a spacecraft, the amount of charge on the surface of spacecraft will need to be monitored for passive control.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.45 no.12
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• pp.1059-1068
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• 2017

Space exploration spacecraft carry large amounts of liquid fuel, often more than half. In such cases, the liquid fuel sloshing must be considered in the design of the spacecraft since the sloshing can affects the stability of the spacecraft. In this paper, we present the results of analyzing the sloshing of fuel and the dynamic behavior of the spacecraft. For the purpose, a model in which the maneuvering of the spacecraft causes the sloshing and a model in which the reaction force and moment due to the sloshing are transmitted to the spacecraft are developed. The dynamical behavior of the spacecraft are analyzed using a simulation program coded by Modelica.

• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.183-192
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• 2013

This paper presents formation reconfiguration using impulsive control input for spacecraft formation flying. Spacecraft in a formation should change the formation size and/or geometry according to the mission requirements and space environment. To modify the formation radius and geometry with respect to the leader spacecraft, the follower spacecraft generates additional control inputs; the two impulsive control inputs are general control type of the spacecraft system. For the impulsive control input, Lambert's problem is modified to construct the transfer orbit in relative motion, given two position vectors at the initial and final time. Moreover, the numerical simulation results show the transfer trajectories to resize the formation radius in the radial/along-track plane formation and in the along-track/cross-track plane formation. In addition, the maneuver characteristics are described by comparing the differential orbital elements between the reference orbit and transfer orbit in the radial/along-track plane formation and along-track/cross-track plane formation.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.56.3-56.3
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• 2017

The Breakthrough Starshot initiative aims to launch gram-scale spacecraft to a speed of v~0.2c, capable of reaching Alpha Centauri and seeing the Earth-like exoplanet, Proxima b, from close distance, in about 20 years. However, a critical challenge for the initiative is the effects of interstellar matter and magnetic field to the relativistic spacecraft during the journey. In this talk, I will first present our evaluation for the damage to the spacecraft by interstellar gas and dust based on a detailed analysis of the interaction of a relativistic spacecraft with the ISM. Second, I will discuss the deflection and oscillation of spacecraft by interstellar magnetic fields. Third, I will discuss the gas drag fore at high energy regime and quantify its effect on the slowing down of the relativistic lightsails. Finally, we will discuss practical strategies to mitigate the damage by interstellar dust and to maintain the spacecraft aiming at the intended target.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1997.10a
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• pp.692-695
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• 1997

Nonlinear robust attitude controller for 3-axis stabilized spacecraft is designed. Robust stability analysis for nonlinear spacecraft system with disturbance is conducted. External disturbances and parametric uncertainties decrease Spacecraft's attitude pointing accuracy. Sliding Mode Control(SMC) provides stability of system in the face of these disturbances and uncertainties. The concept of quadratic boundedness and quadratic stability are applied to the robust analysis for the nonlinear spacecraft system subject to bounded disturbance torques. Numerical simulation is conducted to compare the analysis result and actual nonlinear simulation. The simulation show that analysis result is valid.

• Transactions on Control, Automation and Systems Engineering
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.257-261
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• 2001

Nonlinear pulse width modulation (PWM) controlled system is considered to achieve control performance of thruster controlled spacecraft. The actual PWM controlled motions occur, very closely, around the average model trajectory. Furthermore nonlinear PWM controller design can be directly applied to thruster controlled spacecraft to determine thruster on-time. Sliding mode control for attitude tracking of three-axis thruster-controlled spacecraft is presented. Simulation results are shown which use modified Rodrigues parameters and sliding mode control law to achieve attitude tracking of a three-axis spacecraft with thrusters.