Problem 6.5.

3 Solution
Space Station Precession Problem
The space station precesses
about ny at a rate of one
revolution per hour.

R
30

L
nz

Determine the spin rate

about the space stations
axis of symmetry.

ny
nx

Draw space and body cones and give numerical

values for and .

R
30

L
nz

nx

ny

The space station can be modeled as a cylinder of:

height h = 30 m
radius R = 3 m (of the cross-section) and
mass = 1000 kg.

Mass Properties
Cylinder of Cylinder:
axial
h

I axial =

1 2
mr
2

I transverse = m
transverse

(3r
12

+ h2

Solution

Moments of Inertia of the cylinder about the center of mass:

2

Iaxial = C = (1000 kg) (3 m)

2

= 4500 kg m

1
Itransverse = A =
(1000 kg)
12

= 77250 kg m

{ 3 (3 m)2 + (30m)2 }

 = 30
tan =

4500
C
tan =
tan 30= 0.0336
77250
A

= 1.93

&

&

&
h

&

&

&

&
=
=
sin(180 ) sin( ) sin( )

&
h

&

&
=
=
sin(180 ) sin( ) sin( )

&

&
=
=
sin(180 30) sin(1.93) sin(30 1.93)

rev
rev
& =1

=> & = 14
hour
hour