Rigid body rotation evolution due to a disturbing torque which is known in a body frame (Q1290920)

The authors discuss the evolution of the rigid body rotation under the action of a small torque which depends on the projections of angular velocity of the body onto the body frame only. The kinetic energy and the angular momentum of the body are treated as variables, for which the authors present perturbation equations and give an analytical solution and a geometrical description by using the method of averaging. The motion of a spacecraft with small axial control torque and with small electric propulsion is analysed as example.