Abstract: Considering the tether′s mass, elasticity and deformation，the emphasis of the dynamical simulation problem for a tethered subsatellite is to solve the non-linear partial  differential equations.To establish the continuous mode functions, the dynamical models were built by Mankala method based on Newton's theorem and generalized Hook′s laws. The continuity of the numerical results was achieved via linear compounding of mode technique with polynomial shape functions by Ritz′s method. Hence, the complicated partial differential equations were transformed to ordinary differential equations. Based on the sub-satellite′s free deployment from the steady balance position and 5 degrees out of the plane, the numerical simulations were conducted. The simulation results show slight bending and other basic dynamical characteristics during tether′s swing and free deployment. Meanwhile, the calculation efficiency of Ritz′s method is low.

Key words: Dynamical simulation, Ritz′s method, Free deployment, Tethered subsatellite