A novel satellite cluster design based on tree architecture

Huang He, Zhou Jun, Bai Tao

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This paper is focused on how to design a cluster for a fractionated spacecraft mission, which benefits from the relative communication and navigation of the cluster satellites while keeping the satellites a safe distance apart. The fractionated spacecraft cluster is classified as the tightly controlled formation and the unconsolidated formation. Five parameters will define a satellite cluster, which will reflect the scale, combination, and the space structure of the cluster. A satellite cluster based on the tree architecture is proposed, and the relative combination calculation method for different relative orbits of different tree layers is presented. Simulation results have shown that the cluster satellites can be maintained within a certain distance using the tree architecture.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2659-2670
Number of pages12
JournalProceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering
Volume229
Issue number14
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Dec 2015

Keywords

  • fractionated spacecraft
  • relative distance apart
  • Satellite cluster
  • tree architecture
  • unconsolidated formation

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