The three dimensional motion and stability of a rotating space station: Cable-counterweight configuration

The three dimensional equations of motion for a cable connected space station--counterweight system are developed using a Lagrangian formulation. The system model employed allows for cable and end body damping and restoring effects. The equations are then linearized about the equilibrium motion and nondimensionalized. To first degree, the out-of-plane equations uncouple from the inplane equations. Therefore, the characteristic polynomials for the in-plane and out-of-plane equations are developed and treated separately. From the general in-plane characteristic equation, necessary conditions for stability are obtained. The Routh-Hurwitz necessary and sufficient conditions for stability are derived for the general out-of-plane characteristic equation. Special cases of the in-plane and out-of-plane equations (such as identical end masses, and when the cable is attached to the centers of mass of the two end bodies) are then examined for stability criteria