Orbit-attitude coupled motion around small bodies: Sun-synchronous orbits with Sun-tracking attitude motion. (November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kikuchi, Shota; Howell, Kathleen C.; Tsuda, Yuichi; Kawaguchi, Jun'ichiro
• Is Part Of: Acta astronautica. Volume 140(2017)
• Page Start: 34
• Page End: 48
• Publication Date: 2017-11
• Subjects: Small body -- Solar radiation pressure -- Gravity irregularity -- Sun-synchronous orbit -- Sun-tracking motion -- Orbit-attitude coupled motion; Astronautics -- Periodicals; Outer space -- Exploration -- Periodicals; Astronautics; Periodicals; 629.405
• DOI: 10.1016/j.actaastro.2017.07.043
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0094-5765

Abstract

Abstract: The motion of a spacecraft in proximity to a small body is significantly perturbed due to its irregular gravity field and solar radiation pressure. In such a strongly perturbed environment, the coupling effect of the orbital and attitude motions exerts a large influence that cannot be neglected. However, natural orbit-attitude coupled dynamics around small bodies that are stationary in both orbital and attitude motions have yet to be observed. The present study therefore investigates natural coupled motion that involves both a Sun-synchronous orbit and Sun-tracking attitude motion. This orbit-attitude coupled motion enables a spacecraft to maintain its orbital geometry and attitude state with respect to the Sun without requiring active control. Therefore, the proposed method can reduce the use of an orbit and attitude control system. This paper first presents analytical conditions to achieve Sun-synchronous orbits and Sun-tracking attitude motion. These analytical solutions are then numerically propagated based on non-linear coupled orbit-attitude equations of motion. Consequently, the possibility of implementing Sun-synchronous orbits with Sun-tracking attitude motion is demonstrated. Highlights: The orbit-attitude coupled motion around small bodies is investigated. The solutions of Sun-synchronous orbits with Sun-tracking attitude are derived. Numerical simulations demonstrate the validity of the analytical solutions. DFT analyses extract the frequency components of the complex coupled motion.