Long time missions and the fuel-optimal attitude maneuvering in a swinging mode

The problem of fuel-optimal attitude maneuvering of a space vehicle (SV) with non-fixed time is considered. The state constraint related to the maintenance of artificial gravitation is imposed. This problem is especially important for long-time space missions. The attitude of the space vehicle is controlled by means of a pair of reactive engines which produce a single control torque with fixed direction in the body-fixed frame. An optimal solution is obtained in the class of trajectories belonging to “swinging mode” two-periodic sliding cycling regimes. The solution is found in analytical form and optimal synthesis is obtained. Mathematics Subject Classification (2000) 93C10 · 49L20 · 49N20