The study of formations of spacecraft in a three-body environment represents one of the most promising challenges for future space mission design. Two or more cooperating spacecraft can greatly answer some very complex mission goals. Relative dynamics can be conveniently designed when associated to the peculiar dynamical properties of a low-acceleration environment such as the vicinity of libration points associated to a three-body system. These peculiar regions can be effectively exploited to design formations able to satisfy tight relative position and velocity requirements. The present work studies the free dynamics of a formation flying under the Elliptic Restricted Three-Body Problem (ER3BP) formulation. A three spacecraft triangularly-shaped formation is assumed as a representative geometry to be investigated. Initial configurations, which provide suitable performance in terms of formation keeping, have been investigated and key parameters, which mainly control the formation dynamics within the three-body system, have been identified. Formation keeping performance is quantified by monitoring shape and size changes of the triangular formation. The analysis has been performed under five degrees of freedom to define the geometry, the orientation and the location of the triangle in the synodic rotating frame. The formation orbits in the proximity of a reference trajectory about the third collinear libration point of the Sun-Earth system. The results of the analysis are then compared to the case where orbital perturbation due to Solar Radiation Pressure (SRP) is considered.

Triangular Formation Flying Under the Elliptic Restricted Three-Body Problem Formulation

FERRARI, FABIO;LAVAGNA, MICHÈLE
2014-01-01

Abstract

The study of formations of spacecraft in a three-body environment represents one of the most promising challenges for future space mission design. Two or more cooperating spacecraft can greatly answer some very complex mission goals. Relative dynamics can be conveniently designed when associated to the peculiar dynamical properties of a low-acceleration environment such as the vicinity of libration points associated to a three-body system. These peculiar regions can be effectively exploited to design formations able to satisfy tight relative position and velocity requirements. The present work studies the free dynamics of a formation flying under the Elliptic Restricted Three-Body Problem (ER3BP) formulation. A three spacecraft triangularly-shaped formation is assumed as a representative geometry to be investigated. Initial configurations, which provide suitable performance in terms of formation keeping, have been investigated and key parameters, which mainly control the formation dynamics within the three-body system, have been identified. Formation keeping performance is quantified by monitoring shape and size changes of the triangular formation. The analysis has been performed under five degrees of freedom to define the geometry, the orientation and the location of the triangle in the synodic rotating frame. The formation orbits in the proximity of a reference trajectory about the third collinear libration point of the Sun-Earth system. The results of the analysis are then compared to the case where orbital perturbation due to Solar Radiation Pressure (SRP) is considered.
2014
65th International Astronautical Congress 2014 (IAC 2014)
9781634399869
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11311/861151
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