Authors:Babkin E.V., Vetlov V.I., Matveev N.V., Novichkova S.M., Sazonov V. V.
Gravitational Orientation of the International Space Station.
Abstract:
The technique is described for determining uncontrolled attitude motion of the International Space Station by means of processing on board measurements of its angular rates. The measurement data, collected on a time interval about a few decades of minutes, are processed simultaneously by means of the least squares method and integration the station attitude motion equations. The estimations of the mathematical model parameters and initial conditions of an attitude motion are obtained as a result of such processing. The technique allowed to determine the real station attitude motion in 20 time intervals from April to November 1999. In all intervals, the station rotated around its axis of the minimal moment of inertia, which oscillated weakly near the local vertical. Such a mode of the station attitude motion is called a mode of the gravitational orientation of a rotating satellite or a mode of the generalized gravitational orientation. The use of the mode was planed and measurements were carried out for check.
