Rational schemes of controlled motion of space tether systems

The article deals with the prospective trends of practical use of orbital tether systems. The general theoretical bases for the creation of optimal schemes for the controlled motion of tether systems are being developed in order to determine the priority areas for the application of tether system technologies in new space projects. The rational schemes are created for the controlled motion of the space tether systems. The presented methodical approach, based on the mathematical apparatus of the qualitative theory of dynamical systems and the theory of bifurcations, provides an opportunity to look into the very essence of the mechanics of the motion of the tether systems. The determination of specific modes of motion on circular and elliptical orbits allows obtaining a qualitative physical representation of the process under study, coordinating the results of the research with common sense, and revealing the potential possibilities of tether systems. As a result of the study of the complete set of qualitative structures of dynamic systems, all possible schemes for the controlled motion of connected objects are determined. The areas of initial conditions in which these schemes are realized are presented. The effectiveness indicators of the application of these schemes for the solving of the practical problems under consideration have been developed. The dynamics of the controlled motion of connected objects is analyzed on the example of the transport services problem (transfer the goods into fixed orbit, technical maintenance of spacecraft, collection of large space structures, removal of space debris, etc.) using various modes of motion of cable systems. The rational schemes were defined. © 2018 Association for Computing Machinery.