Space vehicle with speed and orientation correction jets

摘要

An orientation detector (210) coupled to the body of the spacecraft produces an error signal relative to a specified orientation. A control fires at least one of a pair of jets for a nominal time during each firing cycle for a particular total fire time so as to effect the desired change in speed. A first jet in a pair is fired for a longer time than the nominal value and the second is fired for a shorter time so as to vary the moment about the centre of mass while maintaining a constant change in velocity.