Number crunching on the ACOSS model no. 2

The spacecraft model called ACOSS Model Number II was used to develop a control system design for large space structures that has certain desirable characteristics. To achieve these characteristics the control design approach we use is based on an optimal reduced order control design technique that explicitly computes the minimum of an expected quadratic cost function using a numerical search algorithm. The algorithm, developed by Rossi [1], uses an explicit calculation of the gradient and Hessian tensors to guide a second order search. The algorithm and the "number crunching" on the ACOSS model are both described.