AN EXTENDED DOUBLE-GIMBAL SCISSORED-PAIR CONTROL MOMENT GYROSCOPE STEERING CONTROL LAW WITH APPLICATIONS TO ACTIVE DEBRIS REMOVAL AND OCEANOGRAPHIC TARGET TRACKING

Abstract

Control Moment Gyroscopes (CMGs) are a unique class of spacecraft momentum exchange actuators which can deliver relatively high control torques. In this thesis, a CMG design known as the Double-Gimbal Scissored-Pair Control Moment Gyroscope (DGSPCMG) is investigated and applied to a CubeSat placed on three advanced mission cases in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO). In the first case study, an extended DGSPCMG steering control law is introduced which allows the satellite to escape CMG singularities and perform momentum desaturation all while maintaining attitude pointing. In the second case study, the DGSPCMG is applied to enable CubeSat active debris removal missions and a new inertia tensor estimator is presented for tether-assisted inertia estimation of space debris objects. Finally, in the third case study, the DGSPCMG is applied to target tracking applications. For the simulation conditions used, the DGSPCMG-equipped CubeSat is shown to be highly capable of performing advanced mission objectives in LEO.