Attitude dynamics model of on-orbit refueling spacecrafts

Abstract:

Because the spacecraft moment-of-inertia changes obviously during the on-orbit propellant refueling process,this paper provides a detailed analysis of the change of moment-of-inertia.Based on some reasonable assumptions,the paper proposes an effective algorithm for computing the moment-of-inertia.Including only one variable,the propellant flow velocity,the proposed algorithm can compute the moment-of-inertia on-line.As a natural result,the time-varying attitude dynamic model for the on-orbit refueling spacecraft is established.Finally,the numerical simulation illustrates the algorithm correctness and the effect of the spacecraft related parameters on the moment-of-inertia.This result provides theoretical foundations for attitude control system design of on-orbit refueling spacecrafts.