Survey of Reaction Control Systems for Spinning Synchronous Satellites

Document Number: 670543

Date Published: February 1967

Author(s):
M. Edmund Ellion - Hughes Aircraft Co.
H. DiCristina - Hughes Aircraft Co.
L. M. Wolf - Hughes Aircraft Co.

Abstract:
The analysis performed in the selection of a reaction control system for a spinning synchronous satellite is presented. A 2000-lb satellite is chosen as an illustrative example and the detailed steps followed in defining a tradeoff study leading to the selection of a preferred propulsion system are described. A "genesis" t the propulsion systems' requirements is presented, followed by a definition of those criteria used in the selection of the optimum reactitn control system. The paper then reviews a list of candidate propulsion systems and carefully examines their performance potential, state of development, and limitations. Finally, a tradeoff study is effected for the illustrative satellite in which total reaction control system weights are compared. In order to reasonably limit the scope of this paper, other criteria used in real system evaluation, such as availability, reliability, state of development and so forth, are not developed in detail, but are, of course, governing factors in the overall comparison

Product Status: In Stock

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