Tradeoff analysis of attitude-control slew algorithms for prolate spinner

There have been a number of slew algorithms in literature such as half-cone and rhumb line that allow attitude control of a prolate spinning spacecraft using only a single attitude-control thruster. Recently, several novel slew algorithms have been further introduced to the field: extended half-cone, dual cone, and spin sync, which offer a number of advantages to the existing algorithms. The ultimate output of this paper is a slew algorithm selection tradeoff, which is performed in the context of a case study of the Moon Lightweight Interior and Telecom Experiment interplanetary penetrator mission. To support this final quantitative tradeoff, the following analyses are presented beforehand: 1) a summary of the state-of-the-art slew algorithms, 2) a thorough generic parametric analysis of relevant characteristic performances (slew accuracy, slew duration, energy consumption, and torque capacity) as influenced by relevant mission variables, and 3) a comprehensive slew algorithm selection tradeoff methodology. As the parametric analyses and tradeoff methodology are generic in nature, this work could be reused to support similar tradeoffs for other mission scenarios; this represents a major added value of this study. The numerical results presented are validated using a newly developed software simulator called the Attitude Control Simulator for Spinning Spacecraft with Single Thruster.