Fixed-Star Tracking Attitude Control of Spacecraft Using Single-Gimbal Control Moment Gyros

Problem statement: A cluster of small-sized Single-Gimbal Control Moment Gyros (SGCMGs) is proposed as an attitude control actuator for high-speed maneuver of small satellites. There exists a singularity problem what is peculiar to the CMG system. Approach: This study presented a simple singularity avoidance steering law using the Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) algorithm. Results: Capability of the present steering method in singularity avoidance was demonstrated with numerical simulations for fixed-star tracking control of a small satellite using four SGCMGs. Conclusion: The proposed steering law utilizes the singular value decomposition to obtain singular vectors and generates the command gimbal rate that keeps the command torque in the direction orthogonal to the singular direction with a maximum gain.