Design study for a formation-flying nanosatellite cluster

Nanosatellites flying in formation vastly increase the capability of small satellite missions. The approach is within reach of technology, but there are severe challenges for the subsystems. The most demanding task is to implement effective control of the satellites. There are many options for solving the high and the low level control. The propulsion system and the communication system are the subsystems that will determine the constraints on the formation that may be used, and the duration of the mission. The mission of the cluster that the Centre for Large Space Structures and Systems Inc (CLS3) intends to launch will make use of existing technologies for nanosatellites and merge them with an in-house Guidance Navigation and Control system. The project will be developed as a collaboration between companies and organizations, in North America and Europe. The objective of the initial study was to summarize the state-of-the-art for the subsystems, and to stimulate discussions with potential partners. Negotiations with launch companies were also initiated. The satellites will fly in a circular or projected circular formation. In order to calculate the orbits of the satellites, it is of great importance to understand the Hill’s equations. Even though they do not include any of the major perturbations of the orbits, these equations are widely used for design of the control loops for formation-flying constellations.Validerat; 20101217 (root