Spin-Down and Active Nutation Controller /SDANC/ for the Galileo project

The Spin-Down and Active Nutation Controller stabilizes the Galileo spacecraft during spin-down from approximately 70 to 1 rpm. Angular motion of the spacecraft is sensed through a pair of accelerometers and a sun sensor which is needed only at low spin rates. Spin and nutation information is derived by a set of 'loosely coupled' spin and transverse rate estimators. Spin rate is reduced by two spin-down thrusters. The transverse angular rate is compared with a variable threshold; exceeding the threshold activates axial thrusters which impart appropriate transverse torque to reduce the nutation. The scheme was verified by extensive computer simulations and has been demonstrated over a wide range of initial conditions.