Gravitational Torque
In the context of aerospace engineering, gravitational torque refers to the rotational force exerted on a spacecraft due to the gravitational pull of a celestial body. This force is particularly significant when a spacecraft is in orbit around a planet or moon, as the gravitational pull can cause the spacecraft to rotate, altering its orientation or attitude. The magnitude of the gravitational torque depends on the mass distribution of the spacecraft, the distance from the center of mass of the spacecraft to the center of the celestial body, and the gravitational constant of the celestial body. Gravitational torque is a critical factor in the design and operation of spacecraft, as it can affect the stability of the spacecraft, its ability to maintain a desired orientation, and its ability to perform maneuvers. Engineers must take into account gravitational torque when designing control systems for spacecraft, and may use devices such as reaction wheels or control moment gyroscopes to counteract the effects of gravitational torque.
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