Coordinated orbit transfer for satellite clusters.

We propose a control law that allows a satellite formation to achieve orbit transfer. During the transfer, the formation can be either maintained or modified to a desired formation. Based on the orbit transfer control law proposed by Chang, Chichka, and Marsden for single satellite, we add coupling terms to the summation of Lyapunov functions for single satellites. These terms are functions of the difference between the mean anomalies (or perigee passage times) of formation members. The asymptotic stability of the desired formation in desired orbits is proved.