Dynamical Characteristics of a Tethered Stabilized Satellite.

Abstract - Results of a preliminary study of the stability characteristics of a tethered satellite attitude with respect to the local vertical are presented. The configuration investigated consists of a satellite, a tether, and a ballast mass at the opposite end of the tether. The position of the movable tether attachment is controlled by the stabilization control logic. The parameters that affect the attitude control are the tether length, the offset between the satellite center of mass and the attachment point, and the ballast mass. The effect of orbital eccentricity and tether oscillations on the satellite dynamics and identification of possible resonances are also discussed.