초록 ▼

A system for compensating the disturbance torques applied to a satellite, which eliminates the requirement for a thruster control loop. The disturbance torque itself is used as the compensating torque in order to super-impose to the incidental misalignment of the solar panel arrays an artificial mis

A system for compensating the disturbance torques applied to a satellite, which eliminates the requirement for a thruster control loop. The disturbance torque itself is used as the compensating torque in order to super-impose to the incidental misalignment of the solar panel arrays an artificial misalignment that can cause the momentum vector to be adjusted to the desired direction in order to restore the correct attitude of the satellite. The direction of the momentum vector is controlled in orbit only by solar sailing, that is by organizing at prescribed times suitable manoeuvres of one of the solar panels in order to adjust the solar panel array configuration when the roll angle of the satellite exceeds a determined threshold value.

대표청구항 ▼

Method for controlling the direction of the momentum vector of a satellite in a geosynchronous orbit, the satellite having at least a pair of solar panel arrays driven to track the sun when deployed in orbital configuration, the method comprising the steps of: reading the value of the roll angle of

Method for controlling the direction of the momentum vector of a satellite in a geosynchronous orbit, the satellite having at least a pair of solar panel arrays driven to track the sun when deployed in orbital configuration, the method comprising the steps of: reading the value of the roll angle of the satellite and comparing it to a predetermined threshold value; generating a deviation signal when the roll angle value exceeds the threshold value at predetermined times; inhibiting one solar panel array drive in response to the deviation signal, and re-enabling said solar panel array drive after a predetermined time interval has elapsed.