External stability of a resonance during the descent of a spacecraft with a small variable asymmetry in the martian atmosphere

We consider the problem of a spacecraft's descent with a small asymmetry in the rarefied martian atmosphere at low values of the angle of attack. The use of the method of averaging and conditions of external stability of the main resonance make it possible for us to determine several characteristic cases of occurrence of external stability and instability during rotation of the spacecraft. It is shown, that control of the asymmetry in the above-described problem can provide stabilization of rotation of the spacecraft. (C) 2017 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.