Spin Rotor Stabilization of a Dual-Spin Spacecraft with Time Dependent Moments of Inertia

Abstract

We consider a dual-spin deformable spacecraft, in the sense that one of the moments of inertia is a periodic function of time such that the center of mass is not altered. In the absence of external torques and spin rotors, by means of the Melnikov's method we prove that the body motion is chaotic. Stabilization is obtained by means of a spinning rotor about one of the principal axes of inertia.