Free Attitude Motions of a Spinning Body With Substantial Mass Loss

This paper explores the various analytical links between the free attitude motions of spinning bodies of the rocket type, and the system's parameters. The system is modeled as an axisymmetric body with substantial mass loss, and special attention is paid to the presence of a nozzle on the system. It is found that the nozzle expansion ratio can have an important influence on attitude motion, the higher this ratio the better behaved the system.