Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Autonomous Optimal Absolute Orbit Keeping Through Formation-Flying Techniques

Version 1 : Received: 17 October 2023 / Approved: 18 October 2023 / Online: 19 October 2023 (04:46:14 CEST)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Mahfouz, A.; Gaias, G.; Venkateswara Rao, D.M.K.K.; Voos, H. Autonomous Optimal Absolute Orbit Keeping through Formation Flying Techniques. Aerospace 2023, 10, 959. https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace10110959 Mahfouz, A.; Gaias, G.; Venkateswara Rao, D.M.K.K.; Voos, H. Autonomous Optimal Absolute Orbit Keeping through Formation Flying Techniques. Aerospace 2023, 10, 959. https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace10110959

Abstract

In this paper, the problem of autonomous optimal absolute orbit keeping for a satellite mission in Low Earth Orbit using electric propulsion is considered. The main peculiarity of the approach is to support small satellite missions in which the platform is equipped with a single thruster nozzle which provides acceleration on a single direction at a time. This constraint implies that an attitude maneuver is necessary before or during each thrusting arc to direct the nozzle into the desired direction. In this context, an attitude guidance algorithm specific for the orbit maneuver has been developed. A Model Predictive Control scheme is proposed, where the attitude kinematics are coupled with the orbital dynamics in order to obtain the optimal guidance profiles in terms of satellite state, reference attitude, and thrust magnitude. The proposed control scheme is developed exploiting Formation Flying techniques where the reference orbit is that of a virtual spacecraft that the main satellite is required to rendezvous with. In addition to the controller design, the closed loop configuration is presented supported by numerical simulations. The efficacy of the proposed autonomous orbit keeping approach is shown in several application scenarios.

Keywords

Spacecraft; Orbit keeping; Model predictive control; Low-thrust; Relative orbital elements; Eccentricity vector; Inclination vector

Subject

Engineering, Aerospace Engineering

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