Simply mechanized attitude control for spinning vehicles

The two functions required for attitude control of a spinning vehicle, error correction and nutation removal, are accomplished by a single-channel control system. Control torque is applied by a single jet mounted rigidly to the vehicle and producing torque pulses of fixed amplitude and duration when triggered by pulses from a body-mounted passive sensor. The electronics are limited to the sensor amplifier, a fixed time delay, and a solenoid-valve driver. The valve poppet is the only moving part. Proper orientation depends on positioning the sensor and torquing axis at a unique angular separation determined by the ratio of the spinaxis and normal-axis moments of inertia. Analog simulation results show the performance of the control system in aligning the vehicle spin axis to a point or finite-angular-size reference source. A laboratory satellite simulator has also been operated with this control system.