New Solar Attitude Control Approach for Satellites in Elliptic Orbits

Abstract

The investigation explores the feasibility of developing a simple solar attitude controller. The case of gravityoriented satellites carrying two sets of solar surfaces in elliptic orbits has been considered. An approximate analytical approach has been used to evolve the suitable control criteria for regulating the movement of solar surfaces so as to counter the adverse effect of eccentricity normally responsible for a considerable deterioration in the attitude control characteristics of the conventional passive or semipassive methods. The solar controller thus developed is found to be quite effective in limiting the librational amplitude of motion. It is felt that the simplicity of the proposed controller configuration and ease of its operation make it particularly attractive for several satellite applications requiring modest attitude accuracies.