Design of optimal low-thrust manoeuvres for remote sensing multi-satellite formation flying in low Earth orbit. Issue 11 (1st December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Scala, Francesca; Gaias, Gabriella; Colombo, Camilla; Martín-Neira, Manuel
• Is Part Of: Advances in space research. Volume 68:Issue 11(2021)
• Page Start: 4359
• Page End: 4378
• Publication Date: 2021-12-01
• Subjects: Formation flying -- Optimal manoeuvre -- Remote sensing -- Low thrust -- SMOS -- FFLAS; Space sciences -- Periodicals; Astronautics -- Periodicals; Geophysics -- Periodicals; 500.505
• DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2021.09.030
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0273-1177

Abstract

Highlights: Multiple satellite formation flying reconfiguration for remote sensing application. Low thrust manoeuvres via constrained convex optimal control problem. Application of the control problem to a new mission concept for remote sensing. Design of reconfiguration trajectories for remote sensing payload calibration. Design of formation flying transition to safe mode for non-nominal operations. Abstract: This paper presents a strategy for optimal manoeuvre design of multi-satellite formation flying in low Earth orbit environment, with the aim of providing a tool for mission operation design. The proposed methodology for formation flying manoeuvres foresees a continuous low-thrust control profile, to enable the operational phases. The design is performed starting from the dynamic representation described in the relative orbital elements, including the main orbital perturbations effects. It also exploits an interface with the classical radial-transversal-normal description to include the maximum delta-v limitation and the safety condition requirements. The methodology is applied to a remote sensing mission study, Formation Flying L-band Aperture Synthesis, for land and ocean application, such as a potential high-resolution Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) follow-on mission, as part of a European Space Agency mission concept study. Moreover, the results are applicable to a wide range of low Earth orbit missions, exploiting a distributed system, and in particular to Formation Flying L-band Aperture Synthesis (FFLAS) as a follow-on concept to SMOS.