Optimal nonlinear feedback control of spacecraft attitude maneuvers

Polynomial feedback controls are developed for large angle, nonlinear spacecraft attitude maneuvers. Scalar and two-state systems are presented as simple examples to demonstrate the method, and several systems of state variables to parameterize spacecraft motion are considered. Both external and internal control torques are treated; in the latter, attention is restricted to momentum transfer maneuvers that permit several order reductions. Several stability theorems with their application to polynomial feedback systems are discussed.