The formation-flying satellite cluster is a new paradigm for space-based surveillance and remote sensing. In this paradigm, several small satellites fly in close formation and coordinate their activities so that through sparse-array interfemmetric and synthetic aperture techniques the cluster can effectively operate as though it were a much larger monolithic satellite. Management of such cluste...

The design and optimization of interplanetary space mission trajectories is known to be a difficult challenge. The trajectory of the Messenger mission (launched by NASA in 2004) is one of the most complex ones ever created. The European Space Agency (ESA) makes available a numerical optimization benchmark which resembles an accurate model of Messengers full mission trajectory. This contribution...

Fault management is one of the key technologies that enable distributed and disaggregated mission architectures wherein multiple vehicles work cooperatively and autonomously in a cluster or formation, a typical mission concept involving small satellites. In this paper, we describe a software architecture, called Separable Architecture for Fault Isolation and Recovery (SAFIR), which addresses fa...

Clustering for wireless sensor networks (WSNs) is an effective scheme in utilizing sensor nodes energy and extending the network lifetime, while coverage preservation is one of the most essential issues to guarantee the quality of service (QoS). However, the coverage problem has not been well understood so far. For mission-critical applications of networks, it is crucial to consider coverage re...

For many applications a distributed cluster of cooperating satellites offers distinct advantages over satellites functioning alone. These include optimization of mission performance and increased fault tolerance. Although there are many benefits, commanding and controlling a large cluster of cooperating satellites poses several challenges. These include how satellites in the cluster maintain kn...

Clusters are important features of regional development (Porter, 2000). Within clusters there can exist intermediary organizations such as cluster initiatives (CIs), which are the focus in this paper. These mission and activities of cluster initiatives characterize them as “middlehands” organizations which perform intermediary roles as brokers, facilitators, promoters, and providers of meeting ...