Proximity Operations of Formation-Flying Spacecraft Using an Eccentricity/Inclination Vector Separation

TLDR

Synthetic aperture imaging with distributed satellites demands precise control of relative motion. The study explores a formation‑flying concept that achieves required baselines for aperture synthesis while reducing collision risk. The authors employ a linearized relative‑motion model using eccentricity/inclination‑vector separation, extended to LEO, and design a fuel‑efficient control strategy to maintain target separation under perturbations. The method yields immediate insight into relative motion, proves useful for orbit control, and simulations of a TanDEM‑X/TerraSAR‑X formation demonstrate its simplicity and effectiveness.

Abstract

The implementation of synthetic apertures by means of a distributed satellite system requires tight control of the relative motion of the participating satellites. This paper investigates a formation-flying concept able to realize the demanding baselines for aperture synthesis, while minimizing the collision hazard associated with proximity operations. An elegant formulation of the linearized equations of relative motion is discussed and adopted for satellite formation design. The concept of eccentricity/inclination-vector separation, originally developed for geostationary satellites, is here extended to low-Earth-orbit (LEO) formations. It provides immediate insight into key aspects of the relative motion and is particularly useful for orbit control purposes and proximity analyses. The effects of the relevant differential perturbations acting on an initial nominal configuration are presented, and a fuel-efficient orbit control strategy is designed to maintain the target separation. Finally, the method is applied to a specific LEO formation (TanDEM-X/TerraSAR-X), and realistic simulations clearly show the simplicity and effectiveness of the formation-flying concept.