This work establishes a general-purpose method for designing passive spacecraft formations by characterizing the vehicles’ motion on quasi-periodic tori. First, a torus-centric formulation of relative motion is presented. Then, relative distance between spacecraft is examined for two spacecraft on the same torus separated by small angle displacements. The examination motivates the creation of a design methodology that uses a new means of visualizing relative motion on quasi-periodic orbits known as expansion maps. This technique is applied to both the averaged and circular restricted three-body problem (CR3BP). In the CR3BP, both Lissajous and quasi-halo formations are considered. The expansion map demonstrates its capacity to design spacecraft formations in all cases. The creation of this generalized approach toward understanding and designing relative trajectories is a critical next step for formation flight research. Whereas most modern studies solve relative motion problems in particular environments, the techniques discussed in this paper can be applied to a wide variety of systems.
Expansion Maps: Designing Relative Trajectories on Quasi-Periodic Orbits
Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics ; 44 , 3 ; 457-468
2020-12-04
12 pages
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
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