Attitude stabilization of electrodynamic tethers in elliptic orbits by time-delay feedback control

Abstract

It is well known that libration motion of electrodynamic tethers operating in inclined orbits is affected by dynamic instability due to the electromagnetic interaction between the tether and the geomagnetic field. We study the application of two feedback control methods in order to stabilize the periodic attitude motions of electrodynamic tethers in elliptic inclined orbits. Both control schemes are based on the time-delayed autosynchronization of the system. Numerical simulations of the controlled libration motion show that both control techniques are able to transform the uncontrolled unstable periodic motions into asymptotically stable ones. Such stabilized periodic attitude motions can be taken as starting points for the operation of the tether. The control domains of both methods have been computed for different values of the system parameters, as functions of the two control parameters shared by both control schemes. The relative effectiveness of the two techniques in the stabilization of the periodic attitude motion has also been studied. © 2013 IAA.