THE DYNAMICS AND CONTROL ANALYSIS PACKAGE (DCAP) - A VERSATILE TOOL FOR SATELLITE CONTROL

In recent years, space-system design has shown a clear trend towards i ncreasingly complex configurations, Typical examples are the use of se veral flexible components (antennas and solar arrays), the need for de ployment and retrieval mechanisms, the demand for high-precision point ing systems, and the increase in mission scenarios implying the assemb ly of large structures in space. This trend has also caused an evoluti on towards a multi-disciplinary design approach, particularly in the a rea of dynamics and control. This article presents a summary of the de velopment work that has been undertaken during the last ten years by A lenia Spazio under ESA contract, culminating in the production of DCAP - the Dynamics and Control Analysis Package.