An innovative deep space application of GPS technology for formation flying spacecraft

Abstract

This paper describes the Autonomous Formation Flying Sensor (AFF) concept for extremely precise autonomous relative position and attitude determination for formations of satellites or spacecraft where real-time or near-real-time knowledge of relative position and attitude are required. Its technology is built around commercially available receivers widely used in Global Positioning System (GPS) ground applications and recently flight-tested in space. This sensor, however, does not actually require any observations of GPS satellite data for precise spacecraft-to-spacecraft position and attitude measurements. Thus, the AFF could be used in deep space or in Earth orbit, with or without GPS satellite data. Studies indicated that the AFF can provide a relative range measurement accuracy of 1 cm, along with a relative attitude measurement accuracy of 1 arcminute over formation distances of 1 m to 1300 km.