Translational and rotational spacecraft maneuvers via shape change actuators

This paper treats the simultaneous control of spacecraft translational and rotational maneuvers in a fixed plane using linear proof mass actuators. A crucial assumption is that the total linear and angular momenta are zero. We first study a fully actuated spacecraft using three actuators and then we study an underactuated spacecraft using two actuators. In both cases, appropriate equations of motion axe derived. For the fully actuated case, it is shown that feedback linearization can be used to achieve arbitrary base body maneuvers under a mild geometric assumption on the three slots. For the underactuated case, nonlinear control theory is used to show that the base body translation and rotation is controllable via two independent proof mass actuators; an open loop maneuver strategy is developed. Examples are given to demonstrate several planar maneuvers.