Me. Pittelkau, OPTIMAL PERIODIC CONTROL FOR SPACECRAFT POINTING AND ATTITUDE DETERMINATION, Journal of guidance, control, and dynamics, 16(6), 1993, pp. 1078-1084
A new approach to autonomous magnetic roll/yaw control of polar-orbiti
ng, nadir-pointing momentum bias spacecraft is considered as the basel
ine attitude control system for the next Tiros series. It is shown tha
t the roll/yaw dynamics with magnetic control are periodically time va
rying. An optimal periodic control law is then developed. The control
design features a state estimator that estimates attitude, attitude ra
te, and environmental torque disturbances from Earth sensor and sun se
nsor measurements; no gyros are needed. The state estimator doubles as
a dynamic attitude determination and prediction function. In addition
to improved performance, the optimal controller allows a much smaller
momentum bias than would otherwise be necessary. Simulation results a
re given.