Control-moment Gyrscopes for Capture

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The increasing need for refueling and servicing of on-orbit spacecraft motivates a fresh look at the dynamic behaviors of interconnected spacecraft. The sudden changes in attitude dynamics during connection events demand high-torque actuation, ideally through powerefficient momentum-control systems. This research examines the case of two spacecraft (i.e. a servicer and a client spacecraft) that undergo such a connection and how an array of control moment gyroscopes (CMGs) could counteract the impulsive loads imparted by the client.