Partial Stabilization of an Orbiting Satellite Model with a Flexible Attachment

Abstract

We consider a mathematical model of an orbiting satellite, comprising a rigid carrier body and a flexible boom, operating under the influence of gravity gradient torque. This model is represented by a nonlinear control system, which includes ordinary differential equations governing the carrier body's angular velocity and attitude quaternion, coupled with the Euler-Bernoulli equations that describe the vibration of the flexible component. We propose an explicit feedback design aimed at guaranteeing the partial stability of the closed-loop system in an appropriate Hilbert space.