Mathematical simulation of satellite motion with an aerodynamic attitude control system influenced by active damping torques

The dynamics of a satellite moving in a central Newtonian force field in a circular orbit under the influence of aerodynamic and active damping torques depending on projections of the satellite's angular velocity is studied. A method for determining all equilibrium positions (equilibrium orientations) of the satellite in the orbital coordinate system given the values of aerodynamic torque, damping coefficients, and the principal central moments of inertia is proposed. In the case when the axes of the coordinate system attached to the satellite coincide with the axes of the orbital coordinate system, necessary and sufficient conditions for the asymptotic stability of the corresponding zero equilibrium position are obtained using the Routh–Hurwitz criterion. The domains with satisfied asymptotic stability conditions for the zero equilibrium position are analyzed depending on various dimensionless parameters of the problem. The damping of spatial oscillations of the satellite is numerically studied for various values of aerodynamic torque and damping coefficients.