Show simple item record

dc.contributor.advisorDavid W. Miller.en_US
dc.contributor.authorBerkovitz, Dustin S. (Dustin Scott)en_US
dc.contributor.otherMassachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2008-11-07T19:00:12Z
dc.date.available2008-11-07T19:00:12Z
dc.date.copyright2008en_US
dc.date.issued2008en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/43083
dc.descriptionThesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2008.en_US
dc.descriptionIncludes bibliographical references (p. 89-91).en_US
dc.description.abstractThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and other entities in the aerospace industry have recently been considering distributed architectures for many space applications, such as space-based interferometry. Whether the craft in such a system are structurally connected or flown in tight formation, distribution allows for higher redundancy in case of failures as well as reducing the minimum payload footprint for launch. Designed to fly in precise formation, the SPHERES satellites rely on accurate system characteristics such as thruster strength and vehicle mass and inertia. The SPHERES testbed is described and the applications for formation flight are presented. Mass properties of the SPHERES satellites are examined because of their impact on control determination, with comparison between CAD model estimates and empirically determined values. The sensor and actuator suite, essential for closed-loop control, are also identified and characterized. A recursive least squares algorithm for determining mass properties in real time is explained and implemented both offline and online with results from test flights aboard NASA's KC-135 micro-gravity aircraft (Reduced Gravity Airplane, RGA).en_US
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityby Dustin S. Berkovitz.en_US
dc.format.extent155 p.en_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisherMassachusetts Institute of Technologyen_US
dc.rightsM.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.en_US
dc.rights.urihttp://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582en_US
dc.subjectAeronautics and Astronautics.en_US
dc.titleSystem characterization and online mass property identification of the SPHERES formation flight testbeden_US
dc.title.alternativeSystem characterization and online mass property identification of the Synchronized Position-Hold, Engage, Reorient Experimental Satellite formation flight testbeden_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.description.degreeS.M.en_US
dc.contributor.departmentMassachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics
dc.identifier.oclc244387345en_US


Files in this item

Thumbnail

This item appears in the following Collection(s)

Show simple item record