A group of small spacecraft able to change their relative position and attitude through the use of the potential function method is discussed. The spacecraft shapes, sizes and manoeuvring capabilities are not identical, although all are assumed to manoeuvre using continuous thrusters. A hyperbolic form of the attractive potential function is used to reduce actuator effort by using natural orbit...

The advent of spacecraft mobile robots—free-flying sensor platforms and communications devices intended to accompany astronauts or remotely operate on space missions inside and outside of spacecraft—has demanded the development of a simple and effective navigation. One such system under exploration involves the use of a lasercamera arrangement to predict relative positioning of the mobile robot...

Previous research on the solutions of two-point boundary value problems is applied to spacecraft formation dynamics and design. The underlying idea is to model the motion of a spacecraft formation as a Hamiltonian dynamic system in the vicinity of a reference solution. Then the nonlinear phase flow can be analytically described using generating functions found by solving the Hamilton–Jacobi equ...

JUNO’s investigation focuses on four themes: origin, interior structure, atmospheric composition and dynamics, polar magnetosphere. Using a spinning solar-powered spacecraft, the Juno equipment will obtain global maps of the gravity, magnetic fields, and atmospheric composition of Jupiter from a unique polar orbit with a close perijove. JUNO carries in fact precise, high-sensitivity radiometers...

The project presented simulates dynamic resource sharing between multiple small spacecraft similar to the proposed fractionated spacecraft concept. It aims to make a first step from mathematical representation and game theory to the application of resource sharing in orbit, ensuring that each spacecraft module has the needed resources for operation. Two types of spacecrafts, producers and consu...

This paper presents a method to automate the spacecraft design through a multi-criteria optimization process based on the fuzzy logic theory. The spacecraft design is an iterative, definitely complex process, which requires a lot of resources in terms of designers’ expertise and of expended time. A code is here implemented, which automatically define a preliminary spacecraft configuration in te...

Abstract: The exploration of Earth-like exoplanets will be enabled at mid-infrared wavelengths through technology and engineering advances in nulling interferometry and precision formation flying. Nulling interferometry provides the dynamic range needed for the detection of biomarkers. Formation flying provides the angular resolution required in the mid-infrared to separately distinguish the sp...

Spacecraft applications that interact with on-board sensors, effectors, and major components have traditionally used private interfaces which are tightly bound to the interface details of the data links connecting these sub-systems. The latest spacecraft, which often include several powerful processors running real time operating systems, highspeed on-board networks, and intelligent peripherals...

The satellite industry is undergoing a transition toward " smallsat " engineering. Small satellites are becoming more attractive to customers as a method of decreasing cost. As the launch costs remain relatively constant, the industry is turning towards nano–technology, such as microelectromechanical systems, and distributed satellite systems to perform the same missions that once required supe...