Estimating dynamical characteristics of the International Space Station by the use of MAMS acceleration measurements

The results of the estimation of the International space station's mass, using American accelerometer MAMS measurements received during the station reboost maneuver on 2005.08.20, are described. The reboost maneuver was executed by the “Progress” cargo spacecraft’s docking and orientation engines (DPO), which were previously in a free flight using onboard increment apparent velocity meter calibrated. The method and the results of the calibration are described. The error of the station mass’s estimation is about 1%. The same MAMS data and similar ones received during the station reboost maneuver on 2005.08.26 were used for the analysis of the station body low-frequency oscillations caused by the burning of the docking and orientation engines of the “Progress” cargo spacecraft. The eigenfrequencies of the DPO were determined. They are within the range of 0.022 $\div$0.056 Hz. It was shown that the burning of the DPO brings to an essential increase of the microaccelerations in the frequency range of 0 $\div$ 1 Hz. The frequencies on which disturbances increase for more than one order are pointed out.