Uncertainties and Design of Active Aerodynamic Attitude Control in Very Low Earth Orbit

This paper discusses the design and performance achievable with active aerodynamic attitude control in very low Earth orbit, i.e. below 450 km altitude. A novel real-time algorithm is proposed for selecting angles of deflection actuators providing closest match to signal computed by a selected law. The based on panel method computation coefficients relies approximate environmental parameters estimation worst-case scenario assumptions re-emission properties space materials. Discussion results performed assuming two representative pointing manoeuvres, which momentum wheels are used synergistically. quaternion feedback PID controller implemented discrete time assumed determine at sampling frequency 1 Hz. outcome Monte Carlo analysis, wide range orbital conditions, shows that target successfully achieved vast majority cases, thus proving robustness approach presence uncertainties realistic hardware limitations.