Quaternion feedback for spacecraft large angle maneuvers

This paper presents the stability and control analysis for large angle feedback reorientation maneuvers using reaction jets. The strapdown inertial reference system provides spacecraft attitude changes in terms of quaternions. Reaction jets with pulse-width pulse-frequency modulation provide nearly proportional control torques. The use of quaternions as attitude errors for large angle feedback control is investigated. Closed-loop stability analysis for the three-axis maneuvers is performed using the Liapunov stability theorem. Unique characteristics of the quaternion feedback are discussed for single-axis motion using a phase-plane plot. The practical feasibility of a three-axis large angle feedback maneuver is demonstrated by digital simulations.