Dynamic model for an instrument pointing system

Abstract

The instrument pointing system concept discussed in the present paper was developed for Spacelab missions. The system is mounted on soft shockmounts to minimize Shuttle disturbances (such as man motion, thruster firings, etc.) and to reduce the effect of large center of mass offsets between the instrument and the pointing system gimbal axes. The instrument pointing system is soft mounted to the Spacelab pallet located in the Orbiter payload bay. The nonlinear model, incorporating the dynamic equations of motion, the controller equations and the definition of sensor dynamics and gimbal bearing friction, is given, along with a system of linearized equations of motion of the Space Shuttle Orbiter and instrument pointing system (linearized model).