Attitude motion of spacecraft during oblique solar panel deployment

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to establish the dynamics model of spacecraft during deployment of oblique solar panel using Auto Dynamic Analysis of Mechanical System (ADAMS) and to study the attitude motion of the spacecraft system during the oblique solar panel deployment.Design/methodology/approachFor the case of an oblique solar panel on spacecraft, the dynamics virtual prototype model of deployment of oblique solar panels on spacecraft is established and the dynamics simulation is carried out using ADAMS. The effects of solar panel deployment on the attitude motion of spacecraft with different oblique angles are studied and the attitude motion regularities of spacecraft system are discussed. First, the effects on attitude motion of spacecraft are compared between the normal solar panel deployment and oblique solar panel deployment on a spacecraft. Then the attitude motion of spacecraft during the deployment of solar panel with different oblique angles on spacecraft is studied.FindingsThe effects of oblique angle of solar panel deployment on the attitude motion of spacecraft are significant in yaw axis. The bigger the oblique angle, the bigger the changes of yaw angle of spacecraft. However, the bigger the oblique angle, the smaller the changes of roll angle of spacecraft. The effects of oblique angle on pitch angle of spacecraft are slight.Practical implicationsProviding a practical method to study the attitude motion of spacecraft system during deployment of solar panel and improving the engineering application of spacecraft system, which put forward up spacecraft system to the practical engineering.Originality/valueThe paper is a useful reference for engineering design of a spacecraft attitude control system and ground text.