Design of passive launch and on-orbit vibration isolation system for control moment gyroscopes

Abstract

This paper proposes a robust design of a passive nonlinear viscous damping system, which is capable of not only isolating disturbances induced by control moment gyroscopes (CMGs) but also reducing the launch loads transmitted to CMGs. A novel and robust design of viscous damper is developed in the current work, which can provide high damping for launch dynamic loading and low damping for on-orbit micro-vibration loading. In order to understand the nonlinear damping mechanisms of such a viscous damper, a theoretical analysis based on power-law fluid theory is given in this paper. The nonlinear effect and performance of the isolation system are demonstrated by launch environment tests and micro-vibration tests. The test results indicate that the isolation system guarantees the dynamic safety of CMGs under the launch environment and the micro-vibration isolation efficiency of CMGs on orbit.