Fumenti, Federico (DLR, Institute of Space Systems, Bremen), Seelbinder, David (DLR, Institute of Space Systems, Bremen), Theil, Stephan (DLR)

Application of Mean-Motion-Based Artificial Potentials for a Cluster Flight Mission Scenario

Scheduled for presentation during the Regular Session "Spacecraft dynamics and control 1" (WeM3), Wednesday, April 3, 2019, 10:30−11:00, BL281.2

5th CEAS Conference on Guidance, Navigation and Control, April 3-5, 2019, Milano, Italy

This information is tentative and subject to change. Compiled on April 19, 2024

Abstract

Cluster flight is one of the key technologies that are required to enable the deployment of distributed space systems. Through the concept of cluster flight, a large monolithic structure can be replaced with multiple smaller spacecraft, permitting to overcome physical limitations and improve mission performance. To ensure a safe relative motion between several objects that fly in proximity, the guidance and control algorithm must be designed in order to be scalable, autonomous, and responsive. A technique to meet these requirements by employing the method of the artificial potentials is presented in this paper. For a cluster of spacecraft that are distributed in the along-track direction in a leader-follower manner, the relative distances can be altered by focusing and adjusting the mean motion of the spacecraft. An artificial-potential-based approach can be used to evaluate corrections of the semi-major axes by only reacting on the current configuration, with no need to perform trajectory predictions.