In this paper a new class of formations that maintain a constant shape as viewed from the Earth is introduced. An algorithm is developed to place n spacecraft in a constant shape formation spaced equally in time using the classical orbital elements. To first order, the dimensions of the formation are shown to be simple functions of orbit eccentricity and inclination. The performance of the formation is investigated over a Keplerian orbit using a performance measure based on a weighted average of the angular separations between spacecraft in formation. Analytic approximations are developed that yield optimum configurations for different values of n. The analytic approximations are shown to be in excellent agreement with the exact solutions.


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    Title :

    Optimal Configurations for Rotating Spacecraft Formations


    Contributors:

    Conference:

    Richard H. Battin Astrodynamics Symposium ; 2000 ; College Station, TX, United States


    Publication date :

    2000-01-01


    Type of media :

    Preprint


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




    Optimal Configurations for Rotating Spacecraft Formations

    Hughes / Hall / American Astronautical Society | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2000


    Optimal Configurations for Rotating Spacecraft Formations

    S. P. Hughes / C. D. Hall | NTIS | 2000


    Optimal Configurations for Rotating Spacecraft Formations

    Hughes, Steven P. / Hall, Christopher D. | Online Contents | 2000


    Optimal Configurations for Rotating Spacecraft Formations

    Hughes, S. P. / Hall, C. D. / American Astronautical Society | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2000