Abstract Formation analysis is performed for the periodic relative motion between two spacecraft in Keplerian elliptic orbits. For a leader spacecraft moving in a circular orbit around the Earth, the relative motion of a follower spacecraft has an ellipse in the radial/along-track plane. On the other hand, when a leader spacecraft flies in an elliptical orbit, the follower spacecraft does not have an ellipse of fixed eccentricity in the relative motion plane due to the eccentricity of the reference orbit. In this study, the spacecraft formation flying is analyzed to describe the natural periodic relative motion. The instantaneous eccentricity of the relative motion is derived in the radial/along-track (R/AT) plane (x−y plane) formation and the along-track/cross-track (AT/CT) plane (y−z plane) formation. Numerical simulations are performed to yield the periodic relative motion and the formation trajectories in the elliptical reference orbit. The variation of the formation radius according to the eccentricity of the reference orbit is analyzed for R/AT plane and AT/CT plane formations. In addition, the range of the angle difference between two follower spacecraft is described with respect to the eccentricity of the leader spacecraft. Using these results, the desired constraints can be provided for a designer to choose the formation pattern in accordance with the mission requirements.
Formation Pattern Analysis of Follower Spacecraft for Elliptic Reference Orbits
The Journal of the Astronautical Sciences ; 60 , 2 ; 167-185
2013-06-01
19 pages
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
Formation Pattern Analysis of Follower Spacecraft for Elliptic Reference Orbits
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