Simultaneous maneuver and vibration suppression of flexible spacecraft (Q1113861)

A method is described for the simultaneous large-angle maneuver and vibration suppression of flexible spacecraft. The control action is carried out in two independent systems, one system performing the maneuvers and the other system controlling the elastic motion. The vibration is suppressed using a natural control. It is shown that control of the elastic motion does not distort the maneuver because the spacecraft linear and angular momenta are conserved regardless of spacecraft modeling errors. Thus, the maneuver can be designed and performed independently of the elastic motion control.