Synergistic systems for spacecraft attitude control

Abstract

The synergistic system design could be an attractive approach for future spacecraft to cope with their demands. The idea of combining the Attitude Control System and the conventional Electrical Power System is presented here. In this article, the Combined Energy and Attitude Control System (CEACS), a double counter rotating flywheel assembly in the pitch axis, is investigated for small satellites. The performance of CEACS is demonstrated for a selected configuration and mission. Another idea of incorporating the Attitude Control System into the Thermal Control System is also investigated. The Combined Attitude and Thermal Control System (CATCS)* consisting of a “fluid wheel” and permanent magnets, couples an existing onboard temperature gradient with the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) effects for its operation. The performance of CATCS is demonstrated for a reference configuration and mission. The CEACS and CATCS are potential synergistic systems for the future spacecraft.