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gravity gradient stabilization
A useful passive method to achieve stabilization of satellites by using the gravity gradient of the primary body. An orbiting spacecraft will tend to align its long axis (more precisely, the axis of minimum moment of inertia) with the local vertical – that is, in a radial direction.
Related entry
• stabilization of satellitesRelated category
• SPACECRAFT NAVIGATION AND CONTROLAlso on this site:
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