Investigation on consistency between multi-body satellite and ground physical simulation system

Three-axis air-bearing table can not be used in ground physical simulation of multi-body satellite, because when the rotatable appendages move, the alteration of table's centre of mass causes gravity unbalance moment which makes the simulation failure. To solve the problem, the compensation system of centre of mass was developed. This paper researched on the dynamics of multi-body satellite and air-bearing table, analyzed the differences of movement performance between real satellite and ground physical simulation system (GPSS), and developed the consistency condition that the GPSS can simulate the real satellite. When the appendage's centre of mass is superposed with the axis (or centre) of rotation, GPSS can simulate the property and movement performance of real satellite, otherwise, the GPSS will be not consistent with the real multi-body satellite, and more compensation may be applied.