VanDyke, Matthew Clark2011-08-062011-08-062004-07-09etd-06142004-221356http://hdl.handle.net/10919/10015Spacecraft formations offer more powerful and robust space system architectures than single spacecraft systems. Investigations into the dynamics and control of spacecraft formations are vital for the development and design of future successful space missions. The problem of controlling the attitude of a formation of spacecraft is investigated. The spacecraft formation is modelled as a distributed system, where the individual spacecraft's attitude control systems are the local control agents. A decentralized attitude controller utilizing behavior-based control is developed. The global stability of the controller is proven using Lyaponuv stability theory. Convergence of the attitude controller is proven through the use of an invariance argument. The attitude controller's stability and convergence characteristics are investigated further through numeric simulation of the attitude dynamics of the spacecraft formation.ETDIn CopyrightspacecraftdynamicsnonlinearControldecentralizedcoordinatedLiaponuvbehavior-basedattitudeformationThesishttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-06142004-221356