Spin-stabilisation
Encyclopedia
Spin-stabilisation is the method of stabilizing a satellite
or launch vehicle
by means of spin. For most satellite applications this approach has been superseded by three-axis stabilisation
. It is also used in non-satellite applications such as rifle
and artillery
.
Despinning can be achieved by various techniques including Yo-yo de-spin
.
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
or launch vehicle
Launch vehicle
In spaceflight, a launch vehicle or carrier rocket is a rocket used to carry a payload from the Earth's surface into outer space. A launch system includes the launch vehicle, the launch pad and other infrastructure....
by means of spin. For most satellite applications this approach has been superseded by three-axis stabilisation
Three-axis stabilisation
Three-axis stabilisation involves the use of three gyroscopes—one for each axis —to keep satellites correctly oriented in space.The same technology is used to 'steer' guided missiles, but it involves only 2 gyroscopes....
. It is also used in non-satellite applications such as rifle
Rifle
A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
and artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
.
Despinning can be achieved by various techniques including Yo-yo de-spin
Yo-yo de-spin
frame|[[Payload Assist Module|PAM-D]] upper stage with the [[Phoenix |Phoenix]] spacecraft. The [[Star 48|Star 48-B]] engine is shown being spun, fired, yo-yo de-spun and jettisoned....
.