Chaos and its avoidance in spinup dynamics of an axial dual-spin spacecraft

•Attitude dynamics of a dual-spin spacecraft (DSSC) is considered.•Some regimes of the heteroclinic chaos are described.•The local chaotization of the DSSC is investigated at the presence of polyharmonic perturbations.•Reasons of the chaotic regimes initiation at the spinup maneuver realization are studied.•An approach for the local heteroclinic chaos escape at the modification of the classical spinup maneuver is suggested.

Attitude dynamics of a dual-spin spacecraft (DSSC) and a torque-free angular motion of a coaxial bodies system are considered. Some regimes of the heteroclinic chaos are described. The local chaotization of the DSSC is investigated at the presence of polyharmonic perturbations and small nutation restoring/overturning torques on the base of the Melnikov method and Poincaré Maps. Reasons of the chaotic regimes initiation at the spinup maneuver realization are studied. An approach for the local heteroclinic chaos escape/avoidance at the modification of the classical spinup maneuver is suggested.