Dynamics and control of tether connected two-body systems - A brief review

Cable connected systems have been used extensively in water and air environments, and tether systems have been proposed for applications in the space environment. The potential of tether connected two-body orbiting systems has led to many investigations of their dynamics and control during deployment, stationkeeping, and retrieval stages. The present study has the objective to discuss such analyses. Related earlier investigations are considered along with rotating space station-cable-counterweight systems, and concepts for possible future applications. The modelling of Shuttle supported tethered systems is investigated, taking into account important parameters, environmental effects, gravitational forces, solar radiation pressure, and aerodynamic forces. The dynamics and control of Shuttle supported tethered systems are also explored, giving attention to fixed length tether, variable length tether, deployment, and retrieval.