New Approach to Satellite Formation-Keeping: Exact Solution to the Full Nonlinear Problem

[en] This paper presents a new, simple, and exact solution to the formation keeping of satellites when the relative distance between the satellites is so large that the linearized relative equations of motion no longer hold. We employ a recently proposed approach, the Udwadia-Kalaba approach, which makes it possible to explicitly obtain the desired control function without making any approximations related to the nonlinearities in the underlying dynamics. We use an inertial frame of reference to describe the motion of a satellite and since no approximations are made, the results obtained apply to situations even when the distance between the satellites is arbitrarily large. The paper deals with a projected circular formation, but the methodology in this paper can be applied to any desired configuration or orbital requirements. Numerical simulations confirm the brevity and the accuracy of the analytical solution to the dynamical control problem developed herein.

Disciplines :

Aerospace & aeronautics engineering

Author, co-author :

Cho, Hancheol ; Université de Liège > Département d'aérospatiale et mécanique > Laboratoire de structures et systèmes spatiaux

Yu, Adam; Northrop Grumman Co., Ltd. > F-35 JSF Program Section

Language :

English

Title :

New Approach to Satellite Formation-Keeping: Exact Solution to the Full Nonlinear Problem

Publication date :

2009

Journal title :

Journal of Aerospace Engineering

ISSN :

0893-1321

Publisher :

American Society of Civil Engineers

Volume :

Issue :

Pages :

445-455

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Available on ORBi :

since 18 February 2016

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Bibliography

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