Adaptive multivariable golden section control based characteristic model for attitude maneuver control of flexible fuel-filled spacecraft

The present paper deals with dynamics modeling and controller designing for a large flexible spacecraft, such as Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) with several flexible appendages and a liquid fuel tank. Hybrid coordinate is used to describe the configuration of the large flexible liquid-filled spacecraft. A controller is designed and that is adaptive multivariable golden section control based characteristic model. The control mission consists of attitude maneuvering the central rigid body and the large antennas to track the pre-selected motion laws, stabilizing the spacecraft in an inertial space and suppressing the elastic vibration of the appendages. A numerical example is given to prove the validity of the control laws. The cooperation of the adaptive multivariable golden section controller and the new derivative controller based rotational inertia is efficient for various complicated spacecrafts with nonlinearities and uncertainties.