Instability of fixed, low-thrust drag compensation

McInnes, Colin R. (2003) Instability of fixed, low-thrust drag compensation. Journal of Guidance, Control and Dynamics, 26 (4). pp. 655-657. ISSN 1533-3884 (https://doi.org/10.2514/2.5094)

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Abstract

FORCED drag compensation using continuous low-thrustpropulsion has been considered for satellites in low Earth orbit. This simple, but nonoptimal, scheme merely requires that the thrust vector is directed opposite to the drag vector and that the magnitude of the two are equal. In principle, the drag force acting on the spacecraft could be determined onboard using accurate accelerometers. However, for small, low-cost spacecraft such sensors may beunavailable. An alternative strategy would be to Ž x the thrust magnitude equal to the expected air drag that would be experienced by the spacecraft. The thrust levelwould be periodically updated based on ground-based orbit determination. In this Engineering Note, it is shown that such a forced circular orbit with a Ž fixed thrust levelis exponentially unstable for all physically reasonable atmosphere models.

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• Item metadata

  Item type:	Article
  ID code:	6241
  Dates:	Date Event 2003 Published
  Subjects:	Technology > Mechanical engineering and machinery
  Department:	Faculty of Engineering > Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
  Depositing user:	Strathprints Administrator
  Date deposited:	12 Jun 2008
  Last modified:	11 Nov 2024 08:40
  URI:	https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/6241