In this paper， the problems of the vibration behavior and control of the large spatial structure， which is subjected to the solar radiation pressure and earth shadow， are investigated. The large spatial structure is modelled as a flexible beam. Based on the theory of the absolute nodal coordinate and taken solar radiation pressure and gravity gradient into account， the governing equation of the flexible beam is derived. As the numerical results illustrated， the earth shadow has great influence on the beam’s vibration amplitude. Hence， a quasi-static model has been developed， and the effectiveness of the quasi-static model has also been verified. In the light of the influence of the solar pressure and the earth shadow on the flexible beam’s large vibration， a new strategy has been proposed， by modulating the orbital control of the large spatial structure. The numerical results further validate the effective? ness of the control strategy， and the vibration amplitude of the large spatial structure has been reduced under the earth shadow.