{"id":{"repo_id":"rice","oai_identifier":"oai:repository.rice.edu:1911/96568"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/rice/oai:repository.rice.edu:1911/96568","repository":{"repo_id":"rice","name":"Rice University","base_url":"https://repository.rice.edu/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Minimization of Roll Firings for Optimal Propellant Maneuvers","abstract":"Attitude control of the International Space Station (ISS) is critical for operations, impacting power, communications, and thermal systems. The station uses gyroscopes and thrusters for attitude control, and reorientations are normally assisted by thrusters on docked vehicles. When the docked vehicles are unavailable, the reduction in control authority in the roll axis results in frequent jet firings and massive fuel consumption. To improve this situation, new guidance and control schemes are desired that provide control with fewer roll firings. Optimal control software was utilized to solve for potential candidates that satisfied desired conditions with the goal of minimizing total propellant. An ISS simulation too was then used to test these solutions for feasibility. After several problem reformulations, multiple candidate solutions minimizing or completely eliminating roll firings were found. Flight implementation would not only save massive amounts of fuel and thus money, but also reduce ISS wear and tear, thereby extending its lifetime.","abstract_html":"Attitude control of the International Space Station (ISS) is critical for operations, impacting power, communications, and thermal systems. The station uses gyroscopes and thrusters for attitude control, and reorientations are normally assisted by thrusters on docked vehicles. When the docked vehicles are unavailable, the reduction in control authority in the roll axis results in frequent jet firings and massive fuel consumption. To improve this situation, new guidance and control schemes are desired that provide control with fewer roll firings. Optimal control software was utilized to solve for potential candidates that satisfied desired conditions with the goal of minimizing total propellant. An ISS simulation too was then used to test these solutions for feasibility. After several problem reformulations, multiple candidate solutions minimizing or completely eliminating roll firings were found. Flight implementation would not only save massive amounts of fuel and thus money, but also reduce ISS wear and tear, thereby extending its lifetime.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Leach, Parker C"],"institution":"Rice University","degree_name":"Master of Science","degree_level":"Masters","degree_discipline":"Engineering","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Spanos, Pol D"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2016,"date_issued":"2016-04-21","date_published":"2016-04-21","updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:10:37Z","subjects":["aerospace","control","optimization"],"languages":["eng"],"rights":["Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder."],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://hdl.handle.net/1911/96568","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Spanos, Pol D"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Leach, Parker C"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2017-08-03T17:51:12Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2017-08-03T17:51:12Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2016-04-21"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Engineering"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Masters"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["Rice University"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["aerospace","control","optimization"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["eng"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder."]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://hdl.handle.net/1911/96568"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Attitude control of the International Space Station (ISS) is critical for operations, impacting power, communications, and thermal systems. The station uses gyroscopes and thrusters for attitude control, and reorientations are normally assisted by thrusters on docked vehicles. When the docked vehicles are unavailable, the reduction in control authority in the roll axis results in frequent jet firings and massive fuel consumption. To improve this situation, new guidance and control schemes are desired that provide control with fewer roll firings. Optimal control software was utilized to solve for potential candidates that satisfied desired conditions with the goal of minimizing total propellant. An ISS simulation too was then used to test these solutions for feasibility. After several problem reformulations, multiple candidate solutions minimizing or completely eliminating roll firings were found. Flight implementation would not only save massive amounts of fuel and thus money, but also reduce ISS wear and tear, thereby extending its lifetime."]},{"key":"dc:format.mimetype","label":"Dc Format Mimetype","values":["application/pdf"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Minimization of Roll Firings for Optimal Propellant Maneuvers"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Spanos, Pol D"],"dc:creator":["Leach, Parker C"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2017-08-03T17:51:12Z"],"dc:date.available":["2017-08-03T17:51:12Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2016-04-21"],"dc:description.abstract":["Attitude control of the International Space Station (ISS) is critical for operations, impacting power, communications, and thermal systems. The station uses gyroscopes and thrusters for attitude control, and reorientations are normally assisted by thrusters on docked vehicles. When the docked vehicles are unavailable, the reduction in control authority in the roll axis results in frequent jet firings and massive fuel consumption. To improve this situation, new guidance and control schemes are desired that provide control with fewer roll firings. Optimal control software was utilized to solve for potential candidates that satisfied desired conditions with the goal of minimizing total propellant. An ISS simulation too was then used to test these solutions for feasibility. After several problem reformulations, multiple candidate solutions minimizing or completely eliminating roll firings were found. Flight implementation would not only save massive amounts of fuel and thus money, but also reduce ISS wear and tear, thereby extending its lifetime."],"dc:format.mimetype":["application/pdf"],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://hdl.handle.net/1911/96568"],"dc:language.iso":["eng"],"dc:rights":["Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder."],"dc:subject":["aerospace","control","optimization"],"dc:title":["Minimization of Roll Firings for Optimal Propellant Maneuvers"],"dc:type":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Engineering"],"thesis:degree_level":["Masters"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science"],"thesis:institution_name":["Rice University"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:10:37Z"}