Investigation of evolution of spacecraft Foton M-2 attitude motion
Abstract:
This preprint presents the results of the repeated reconstruction of the uncontrolled attitude motion of the spacecraft Foton M-2 (was in orbit 31.V – 16.VI.2005) by measurements of onboard magnetometers. This problem was already solved successfully a few years ago. The repeated reconstruction was made by using the more simple mathematical model of spacecraft attitude motion than the model used in processing just after the flight. Simplifications were made in order the new model corresponded to the models in Beletsky's analysis of spacecraft attitude motion closed to Euler's regular precession of an axisymmetric rigid body. As a consequence of some roughening of the reconstruction, we made a direct comparison of the reconstruction results and Beletsky's theory.
Keywords:
spacecraft, attitude motion, reconstruction of motion by measurement data, evolution of attitude motion
