Spacecraft Formation Flying

Space agencies are now realizing that much of what has previously been achieved using hugely complex and costly single platform projects—large unmanned and manned satellites (including the present International Space Station)—can be replaced by a number of smaller satellites networked together. The key challenge of this approach, namely ensuring the proper formation flying of multiple craft, is the topic of this second volume in Elsevier’s Astrodynamics Series, Spacecraft Formation Flying: Dynamics, control and navigation. In this unique text, authors Alfriend et al. provide a coherent discussion of spacecraft relative motion, both in the unperturbed and perturbed settings, explain the main control approaches for regulating relative satellite dynamics, using both impulsive and continuous maneuvers, and present the main constituents required for relative navigation. The early chapters provide a foundation upon which later discussions are built, making this a complete, standalone offering. Intended for graduate students, professors and academic researchers in the fields of aerospace and mechanical engineering, mathematics, astronomy and astrophysics, Spacecraft Formation Flying is a technical yet accessible, forward-thinking guide to this critical area of astrodynamics. The first book dedicated to spacecraft formation flying, written by leading researchers and professors in the field Develops the theory from an astrodynamical viewpoint, emphasizing modeling, control and navigation of formation flying satellites on Earth orbits Examples used to illustrate the main developments, with a sample simulation of a formation flying mission included to illustrate high fidelity modeling, control and relative navigation

Spacecraft formation flying (SFF) is of huge importance to the aerospace and space community. Not the stuff of science-fiction, SFF involves flying multiple small satellites together, to deliver benefits which far outweigh a single larger craft or space station. The first autonomous formation flying earth science mission was in 196 and NASA now has 35 SFF mission sets. By networking several smaller and cheaper craft, scientists can make simultaneous measurements that enable higher resolution astronomical imagery, provide robust and fault-tolerant spacecraft system architectures, and enable complex earth science and space science networks dispersed over clusters of satellites in space. This is the first book to introduce and explore SFF. It is a topic of enormous importance to aerospace engineers, astrodynamicists, satellite engineers, astronomers, physicists, and applied mathematicions. This book provides a complete introduction to the subject and is supported by graduate level student exercises plus Matlab and Maple code sets for running SFF simulations. * The first book dedicated to spacecraft formation flying which is the enabling element of distributed spacecraft systems * Written by the leading researchers and teachers in the field; perfect for research and graduate students * Accompanied by Matlab and Maple code sets and exercises for graduate level students of aerospace science, astrodynamics and orbital mechanics.

Small satellite technology is opening up a new era in space exploration offering reduced cost of launch and maintenance, operational flexibility with on-orbit reconfiguration, redundancy etc. The true power of such missions can be harnessed only from close and precise formation flying of satellites. Formation flying missions support diverse application areas such as reconnaissance, remote sensing, solar observatory, deep space observatories, etc. A key component involved in formation flying is the guidance algorithm that should account for system nonlinearities and unknown disturbances. The main focus of this book is to present various nonlinear optimal control and adaptive guidance ideas to ensure precise close formation flying in presence of such difficulties. In addition to in-depth discussion of the relevant topics, MATLAB program files for the results included are also provided for the benefit of the readers. Since this book has concise information about the various guidance techniques, it will be useful reference for researchers and practising engineers in the space field.

Aimed at students, faculty and professionals in the aerospace field, this book provides practical information on the development, analysis, and control of a single and/or multiple spacecraft in space. This book is divided into two major sections: single and multiple satellite motion. The first section analyses the orbital mechanics, orbital perturbations, and attitude dynamics of a single satellite around the Earth. Using the knowledge of a single satellite motion, the translation of a group of satellites called formation flying or constellation is explained. Formation flying has been one of the main research topics over the last few years and this book explains different control approaches to control the satellite attitude motion and/or to maintain the constellation together. The control schemes are explained in the discrete domain such that it can be easily implemented on the computer on board the satellite. The key objective of this book is to show the reader the practical and the implementation process in the discrete domain. Explains the orbital motion and principal perturbations affecting the satellite Uses the Ares V rocket as an example to explain the attitude motion of a space vehicle Presents the practical approach for different control actuators that can be used in a satellite

This book systematically describes the concepts and principles for multi-satellite relative motion, passive and near passive formation designs, trajectory planning and control for fuel optimal formation maneuvers, and formation flying maintenance control design. As such, it provides a sound foundation for researchers and engineers in this field to develop further theories and pursue their implementations. Though satellite formation flying is widely considered to be a major advance in space technology, there are few systematic treatments of the topic in the literature. Addressing that gap, the book offers a valuable resource for academics, researchers, postgraduate students and practitioners in the field of satellite science and engineering.

Provides the basics of spacecraft orbital dynamics plusattitude dynamics and control, using vectrix notation Spacecraft Dynamics and Control: An Introductionpresents the fundamentals of classical control in the context ofspacecraft attitude control. This approach is particularlybeneficial for the training of students in both of the subjects ofclassical control as well as its application to spacecraft attitudecontrol. By using a physical system (a spacecraft) that the readercan visualize (rather than arbitrary transfer functions), it iseasier to grasp the motivation for why topics in control theory areimportant, as well as the theory behind them. The entiretreatment of both orbital and attitude dynamics makes use ofvectrix notation, which is a tool that allows the user to writedown any vector equation of motion without consideration of areference frame. This is particularly suited to the treatment ofmultiple reference frames. Vectrix notation also makes a very cleardistinction between a physical vector and its coordinaterepresentation in a reference frame. This is very important inspacecraft dynamics and control problems, where often multiplecoordinate representations are used (in different reference frames)for the same physical vector. Provides an accessible, practical aid for teaching andself-study with a layout enabling a fundamental understanding ofthe subject Fills a gap in the existing literature by providing ananalytical toolbox offering the reader a lasting, rigorousmethodology for approaching vector mechanics, a key element vitalto new graduates and practicing engineers alike Delivers an outstanding resource for aerospace engineeringstudents, and all those involved in the technical aspects of designand engineering in the space sector Contains numerous illustrations to accompany the written text.Problems are included to apply and extend the material in eachchapter Essential reading for graduate level aerospace engineeringstudents, aerospace professionals, researchers and engineers.

The Goddard Space Flight Center Guidance, Navigation, and Control Center (GNCC) is currently developing and implementing advanced satellite systems to provide autonomous control of formation flyers. The initial formation maintenance capability will be flight-demonstrated on the Earth-Orbiter-1 (EO-l) satellite, which is planned under the National Aeronautics and Space Administration New Millennium Program to be a coflight with the Landsat-7 (L-7) satellite. Formation flying imposes relative navigation accuracy requirements in addition to the orbit accuracy requirements for the individual satellites. In the case of EO-1 and L-7, the two satellites are in nearly coplanar orbits, with a small difference in the longitude of the ascending node to compensate for the Earth's rotation. The GNCC has performed trajectory error analysis for the relative navigation of the EO-1/L-7 formation, as well as for a more advanced tracking configuration using cross- link satellite communications. This paper discusses the orbit determination and prediction accuracy achievable for EO-1 and L-7 under various tracking and orbit determination scenarios and discusses the expected relative separation errors in their formation flying configuration. Hartman, Kate R. and Gramling, Cheryl J. and Lee, Taesul and Kelbel, David A. and Long, Anne C. Goddard Space Flight Center AAS-98-353 ...

The book focuses on the orbital dynamics and mission trajectory (transfer or target trajectory) design of low-energy flight in the context of modern astrodynamics. It investigates various topics that either offer new methods for solving classical problems or address emerging problems that have yet to be studied, including low-thrust transfer trajectory design using the virtual gravity field method; transfer in the three-body system using invariant manifolds; formation flying under space-borne artificial magnetic fields; and the orbital dynamics of highly irregular asteroids. It also features an extensive study of the orbital dynamics in the vicinity of contact binary asteroids, including the 1:1 ground-track resonance, the equilibrium points and their stability, and the third-order analytical solution of orbital motion in the vicinity of the non-collinear equilibrium point. Given its breadth of coverage, the book offers a valuable reference guide for all engineers and researchers interested in the potential applications of low-energy space missions.

CubeSat Handbook: From Mission Design to Operations is the first book solely devoted to the design, manufacturing, and in-orbit operations of CubeSats. Beginning with an historical overview from CubeSat co-inventors Robert Twiggs and Jordi Puig-Suari, the book is divided into 6 parts with contributions from international experts in the area of small satellites and CubeSats. It covers topics such as standard interfaces, on-board & ground software, industry standards in terms of control algorithms and sub-systems, systems engineering, standards for AITV (assembly, integration, testing and validation) activities, and launch regulations. This comprehensive resource provides all the information needed for engineers and developers in industry and academia to successfully design and launch a CubeSat mission. Provides an overview on all aspects that a CubeSat developer needs to analyze during mission design and its realization Features practical examples on how to design and deal with possible issues during a CubeSat mission Covers new developments and technologies, including ThinSats and PocketQubeSats

This book develops a dynamical model of the orbital motion of Lorentz spacecraft in both unperturbed and J2-perturbed environments. It explicitly discusses three kinds of typical space missions involving relative orbital control: spacecraft hovering, rendezvous, and formation flying. Subsequently, it puts forward designs for both open-loop and closed-loop control schemes propelled or augmented by the geomagnetic Lorentz force. These control schemes are entirely novel and represent a significantly departure from previous approaches.

An introduction to orbital mechanics and spacecraft attitude dynamics Foundations of Space Dynamics offers an authoritative text that combines a comprehensive review of both orbital mechanics and dynamics. The authora noted expert in the fieldcovers up-to-date topics including: orbital perturbations, Lambert's transfer, formation flying, and gravity-gradient stabilization. The text provides an introduction to space dynamics in its entirety, including important analytical derivations and practical space flight examples. Written in an accessible and concise style, Foundations of Space Dynamics highlights analytical development and rigor, rather than numerical solutions via ready-made computer codes. To enhance learning, the book is filled with helpful tables, figures, exercises, and solved examples. This important book: Covers space dynamics with a systematic and comprehensive approach Is designed to be a practical text filled with real-world examples Contains information on the most current applications Includes up-to-date topics from orbital perturbations to gravity- gradient stabilization Offers a deep understanding of space dynamics often lacking in other textbooks Written for undergraduate and graduate students and professionals in aerospace engineering, Foundations of Space Dynamics offers an introduction to the most current information on orbital mechanics and dynamics.