Method and Device for positioning a spacecraft in the direction of a celestial body.

摘要

The device consists of a solar sail (30, 31) which is asymmetrical about an axis (Z) and which subjects the probe (S) to a torque from solar pressure which turns it over. A momentum wheel (20) rotates about a perpendicular axis (X). Because of this, the probe rotates about the axis (Y) perpendicular to the two previous axes. The speed of rotation of the wheel (20) is varied by a control system (23, 24) in order to alter the speed of rotation of the probe.
<??>Application to space probes moving in the plane of the ecliptic.
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