Analysis of deployment dynamics of a space tether system with an atmospheric sounder

This paper studies the deployment dynamics of a space tether system with an atmospheric sounder. A tether deployment program that brings the system to a given vertical position without solving the boundary problem is given. A mathematical model in an orbital moving coordinate system with considering the atmospheric drag acting on the spacecraft and atmospheric sounder is used for developing a nominal deployment program of the system. The deployment process of the space tether system with an atmospheric sounder in a geocentric fixed coordinate system is analyzed with the consideration of control system performance, tether elasticity, control mechanism inertia and other disturbances. It is shown that to develop a nominal deployment program with considering the atmospheric drag can decrease the system errors several times when the system gets into a given final state. Numerical case studies are given to verify the analytical research and formulated conclusions.