AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Meeting

The Ionospheric Observation Nanosatellite Formation (ION-F) comprises three small spacecraft that will cooperate to make measurements of the ionosphere’s electron density and its effects on GPS signal propagation. A novel feature of the mission is the planned suite of formation flying experiments involving the three satellites. The uniqueness of these experiments is enhanced by the dissimilar nature of the sensors and actuators used by the three spacecraft, including micro-pulsed plasma thrusters, a hydroxylammonium nitrate (HAN) monopropellant thruster, and differential drag control. In this paper, we describe the ION-F mission, the designs of the three satellites, and the proposed suit