GYROSCOPIC STABILITY OF A NONRIGID SPACECRAFT

The gyroscopic stability of spacecraft containing vibrating masses is studied by modal methods. Several simple examples representative of ge neral spacecraft configurations are used to demonstrate how a variety of constrained internal mass motions can destabilize spacecraft throug h modal resonance. The resonance process is typically more unexpected, rapid and dangerous, as opposed to the slower energy dissipation proc ess. General conditions for stability limits are derived in simple exp licit form, which may provide the leading order information for more e laborate studies of the inherent phenomena.