Space Station Rotational Stability

David W. Jensen

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arXiv · 2408.00155

Space Station Rotational Stability

David W. Jensen

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Abstract

Designing for rotational stability can dramatically affect the geometry of a space station. If improperly designed, the rotating station could end up catastrophically tumbling end-over-end. Active stabilization can address this problem; however, designing the station with passive rotation stability provides a lower-cost solution. This paper presents passive rotational stability guidelines for four space station geometries. Station stability is first analyzed with thin-shell and thick-shell models. Stability is also analyzed with models of the station's major constituent parts, including outer shells, spokes, floors, air, and shuttle bays.

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David W. Jensen. 2024-07-31. Space Station Rotational Stability. https://arxiv.org/abs/2408.00155

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