Attitude control of an earth orbiting solar sail satellite to progressively change the selected orbital element

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Tezin Türü: Yüksek Lisans

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Mühendislik Fakültesi, Havacılık ve Uzay Mühendisliği Bölümü, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2014

Öğrenci: ÖMER ATAŞ

Danışman: OZAN TEKİNALP

Özet:

Solar sailing is currently under investigation for space propulsion. Radiation pressure from the Sun is utilized to propel the spacecraft. This thesis examines locally optimal steering law to progressively change the selected orbital elements, without considering others, of an Earth centered Keplerian orbit of a cube satellite with solar sail. The proper attitude maneuver mechanization is proposed to harvest highest solar radiation force in the desired direction for such Earth orbiting satellites. The satellite attitude control is realized by developing quaternion feedback controller. The changes of the orbital elements are observed.