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ESA logo Ulysses Nutation Anomaly
 
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"Nutation" is a "wobbly" spin motion.

In Latin Nutatio,-onis means "decay".
The word is part of the jargon used in astronomy, and spacecraft dynamics.

A perfect spin motion can degenerate into nutation when a certain kind of dynamic "unbalance" takes place. If left alone, it becomes a very serious spacecraft problem.

Nutation Index:

Simulation of Nutation Behavior (the nutation "Rosette")
Try our Nutation Control Manoeuvre Game! (Java)
3D Simulation of Manoeuvre Physics (Java)
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