Homoclinic solutions and motion chaotization in attitude dynamics of a multi-spin spacecraft

• Attitude dynamics of the multi-spin spacecraft is considered.
• Exact homoclinic and general solutions are obtained.
• Chaotic and regular modes at presence of polyharmonic disturbances are examined.

The attitude dynamics of the multi-spin spacecraft (MSSC) and the torque-free angular motion of the multi-rotor system are considered. Some types of homoclinic and general solutions are obtained in hyperbolic and elliptic functions. The local homoclinic chaos in the MSSC angular motion is investigated under the influence of polyharmonic perturbations. Some possible applications of the multi-rotor system are indicated, including gyrostat-satellites, dual-spin spacecraft, roll-walking robots, and also the inertialess method of the spacecraft attitude (angular) reorientation/control.