Abstract
This paper studies a control of the extending space structures in orbit under gravity-gradient environment. To this end, it first introduces an equation of motion of the satellite that extends on the orbit and shows that it is a linear time-varying system. Then it is represented as a linear parameter varying system and the way applying Gain-scheduling control method is described. Finally, by using a simple column model, it gives an example that the gravity-gradient stability condition which stands up for the non-extending satellite becomes ineffective for the extending one and that the obtained controller can stabilize it within the sufficient accuracy.
