Fuel optimal reorientation of axisymmetric spin-stabilized satellites

The fuel optimal spin axis reorientation problem for large and small maneuver times is solved using a new numerical technique. The approach, which employs the adaptive grid bisection search, is shown to be useful in determining the fuel optimal impulsive control strategy, particularly when rapid maneuvers are desired. For large enough maneuver times, the method produces the two-impulse reorientation maneuver. For even larger maneuver times, the existence of multiple optimal pulsing schemes is demonstrated.