A method for controlling phased transfer of multiple spacecraft from a separation orbit to a target orbit includes, while maintaining an in-phase relationship of the spacecraft relative to each other within the separation orbit, computing, via a control system, respective desired trajectories for a lead spacecraft and two or more follower spacecraft to reach the target orbit. The method includes establishing a constant phase offset between the spacecraft in mean anomaly of the separation orbit. During a series of transfer orbits of the spacecraft from the separation orbit to the target orbit, the method includes applying the desired trajectories via the control system such that the constant phase offset is maintained and the follower spacecraft are simultaneously transferred to the target orbit in-phase with the lead spacecraft. The control system includes a processor and computer-readable storage medium programmed with instructions for performing the method.
PHASED CONTROL OF MULTIPLE SPACECRAFT DURING A LOW-THRUST ORBIT TRANSFER MANEUVER
06.06.2024
Patent
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
IPC: | B64G Raumfahrt , COSMONAUTICS |
Novel Control-Guidance Law for Low-Thrust Orbit Maneuver
NTIS | 1990
|Optimal Continuous-Thrust Rephasing Maneuver in Circular Orbit
Online Contents | 2017
|Optimal Continuous-Thrust Rephasing Maneuver in Circular Orbit
Online Contents | 2017
|