"Jeff" wrote in message
news
News f2s wrote:
"Jeff" wrote in message
...

BTW, I learned celestial navigation while working on a craft
that used gyros for stabilization. When the gyros failed, the
craft was scuttled!


Did it use the gyros to hold the craft rigid? or did it use
them to drive stabiliser vanes to counter roll?

The gyros were used directly to keep the craft at the correct
attitude. There were six onboard when launched, and they failed
one by one. When they all died, it was abandoned and scuttled.
BTW, the cost of the craft was $250,000,000, 28 years ago.

I guess they had to use an even number, half rotating one way, and
half rotating the other, to cancel precession. What a project!

JimB