This paper considers the problem of rotating a formation of spacecraft from one orientation to another, using an optimal amount of fuel. The formation is constrained to have the same shape at the beginning and end of a maneuver. However, the shape is unconstrained throughout the maneuver. This implies that to optimize fuel, each spacecraft travels in a straight line, from its beginning to end position. A cost function, motivated by the entropy function from information theory, is used to trade off fuel minimization verses equalizing the fuel across the constellation to avoid fuel starvation.
Fuel Optimization for Unconstrained Rotation of Spacecraft Formations
J of Astronaut Sci
The Journal of the Astronautical Sciences ; 47 , 3-4 ; 259-273
1999-09-01
15 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
Fuel Optimization for Unconstrained Rotation of Spacecraft Formations
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