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Introduction to passive nutation dampersConing motion can prevent photographic and TV cameras and other oriented spacecraft experiments from maintaining a steady scan, and it can introduce a ripple in the high-gain communication system. Nutation dampers are used to remove this type of spacecraft instability. The first nutation damper flown in a missile for the stabilization of the gyroscope consisted of a hollow ring that was partially filled with mercury, and the sloshing of the mercury dissipated the nutational energy. A similar mercury-ring damper was used in the Pioneer 1 lunar probe in 1958 and became the first nutation damper to be used in space. Since then many types of nutation dampers have been designed for spin-stabilized spacecraft ranging in size from small scientific satellites to large space stations.
Document ID
19720005751
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Other
Authors
Herzl, G. C.
(Lockheed Missiles and Space Co. Palo Alto, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 6, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1971
Publication Information
Publication: NASA. Goddard Space Flight Center 5th Aerospace Mech. Symp.
Subject Category
Instrumentation And Photography
Accession Number
72N13400
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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