Abstract: | A symmetric mathematical model is developed to describe the spatial motion of a system of space vehicles whose structure is represented by regular geometrical figures (Platonic bodies). The model is symmetrized by using the Euler-Lagrange equations of motion, the Rodrigues-Hamilton parameters, and quaternion matrix mathematics. The results obtained enable us to model a wide range of dynamic, control, stabilization, and orientation problems for complex systems and to solve various problems of dynamic design for such systems, including estimation of dynamic loading on the basic structure during maneuvers in space __________ Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika, Vol. 42, No. 1, pp. 126–132, January 2006. |