Feasible angular momentum of spacecraft installed with control moment gyros

Abstract

In this paper, a fundamental approach to analyzing the maneuverability of spacecraft with mounted control moment gyros is addressed by searching feasible angular momentum. The geometrical array of control moment gyros considered is a roof array also known as a 2-SPEED system. Due to the simplicity of the singularity envelope of the array considered, it is reasonably practical to conduct rotational performance analysis of the spacecraft. This maneuverability analysis technique uses a unique chart developed in this work, which allows a guaranteed maximum torque output and angular momentum at any time without concern about the singularity problem of the control moment gyros. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to provide a conservative method for maneuverability analysis of a spacecraft with installed control moment gyros by searching allowable maximum angular momentum. This method is demonstrated using an illustrative example.