Analytical solution of attitude motion for spacecraft with a slewing appendage

This paper investigates pitch motion and in orbital plane elastic vibration of a spacecraft with a flexible beam type appendage undergoing prescribed slew maneuver. The governing equations are transformed into a standard quasi-linear form, and then solved by Butenin's variation of parameters approach. Validity of the analytical solutions is assessed over a range of system parameters and initial conditions by comparing them with the results of numerical integration. The results show that they are very good approximations and provide extensive insight into the dynamical response of the system.