CubeSat Slosh Dynamics and Its Effect on Precision
Attitude Control for the VISORS Distributed Spacecraft
Telescope Mission
Author(s)
Carter, Christopher A.
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Abstract
The VIrtual Super Optics Reconfigurable Swarm (VISORS) mission is a CubeSat
distributed telescope mission which aims to take high angular resolution images of the sun
using multiple spacecraft in sub 100m proximity operations. This requires high accuracy
attitude and relative position control on small time scales. To achieve the required relative
position accuracy, the spacecraft in the swarm must frequently use thrusters to provide
impulsive corrections. This paper examines the effect that these maneuvers have on the
CubeSat attitude control system by examining the relative magnitudes of each force acting on
the system and choosing applicable analytic methods to predict the fundamental
characteristics of the response. These characteristics were used to inform an analogous
mechanical model for the slosh motion, which was used to determine the time-varying
response of the spacecraft control system while considering slosh disturbances. By simulating
typical maneuvers, the spacecraft’s sensitivity to slosh disturbances was determined,
providing operational constraints and initial validation of the mission’s precise pointing
requirements.
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Date
2020-05-01
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Text
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Masters Project
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