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Earth-Pointing Attitude Control of a Spinning High-Aspect-Ratio Membrane Structure using Thrusters and Solar Radiation Pressure

Earth-Pointing Attitude Control of a Spinning High-Aspect-Ratio Membrane Structure

本研究は,スピン型高アスペクト比膜構造物に一次元干渉計を搭載したフェーズドアレイアンテナの実現に向けた基礎検討を行うものである.膜の柔軟変形が姿勢制御や観測性能に与える影響を考慮しつつ,スラスタ消費量削減のために太陽輻射圧を積極的に活用した地球指向姿勢制御方策の検討および提案を目的とする.

This research carries out a fundamental study toward realizing a phased-array antenna in which a one-dimensional interferometer is mounted on a spinning high-aspect-ratio membrane structure. While accounting for the influence that the flexible deformation of the membrane has on attitude control and observation performance, the objective is to investigate and propose an Earth-pointing attitude control strategy that actively exploits solar radiation pressure in order to reduce thruster propellant consumption.

Abstract

フェーズドアレイアンテナは用途・周波数によっては10mを超える開口が必要となるが,従来の宇宙構造では実現が困難なケースが多い.この課題に対し,本研究では一次元干渉計を搭載したスピン型高アスペクト比膜構造物を提案する.本構造は連続回転によって二次元開口合成を実現するが,膜の柔軟性に起因する形状変形が観測性能や姿勢制御に悪影響を及ぼす.スラスタ単独での姿勢制御は燃料消費の観点から持続的な運用に適さないため,太陽輻射圧等の外部トルクを積極的に活用した制御方策を検討する.具体的には,液晶デバイスのON/OFFを切り替えることで膜面全体に所望の方向へのトルクを発生させ,スラスタ消費量を最小限に抑えながら目標姿勢への制御を実現する手法を考案する.さらに,スピン型衛星の安定運用に不可欠なニューテーション抑制についても,太陽輻射圧を活用した制御方策を検討し,燃料消費を最小化しつつ安定した姿勢制御の実現を目指す.

Depending on its application and frequency, a phased-array antenna may require an aperture exceeding 10 m, which is often difficult to realize with conventional space structures. To address this challenge, this research proposes a spinning high-aspect-ratio membrane structure equipped with a one-dimensional interferometer. The structure achieves two-dimensional aperture synthesis through continuous rotation, but the shape deformation caused by the flexibility of the membrane adversely affects both observation performance and attitude control. Because attitude control by thrusters alone is unsuitable for sustained operation from the standpoint of propellant consumption, we investigate a control strategy that actively utilizes external torques such as solar radiation pressure. Specifically, we devise a method that generates torque in a desired direction over the entire membrane surface by switching liquid-crystal devices on and off, thereby achieving control toward the target attitude while minimizing thruster usage. Furthermore, for nutation damping—which is essential for the stable operation of a spinning spacecraft—we also examine a control strategy based on solar radiation pressure, aiming to realize stable attitude control while minimizing propellant consumption.

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