Work

Release Guidance Analysis of a Deputy Satellite Using Charged Formation Flying for On-Orbit Servicing

Year: 2012

Type: article

Abstract: On-orbit servicing is of interest for long duration missions due to potential benefits such as increasing the mission lifetime. In order to realize on-orbit servicing Coulomb, formation satellite systems lend themselves as one possible approach. This paper discusses such a system. A method is proposed for deploying a small deputy satellite from a docked condition on a main satellite to a Clohessy-Wiltshire bounded solution. A series of elliptical guidance paths are used for this purpose. Additionally, a method of changing the relative plane of motion of the deputy satellite is presented. This method requires the reorientation of the main satellite. Numerical simulations indicate that such maneuvers are possible within the given assumptions. It is observed that even in the worst-case scenario, positional errors can be kept within several centimeters.

Source: TRANSACTIONS OF THE JAPAN SOCIETY FOR AERONAUTICAL AND SPACE SCIENCES

DOI: 10.2322/tjsass.55.99

Authors: Paul ILIFFE, Saburo MATUNAGA

Institutions: Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Institute of Space and Astronautical Science

Language: English

Topic: Space Satellite Systems and Control

Subfield: Aerospace Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

Award: Research on Practical On-Orbit Servicing Systems Using Nano-Satellite Technologies