Abstract. Due to the increasing number of deep space missions in following years, focus on methods and strategies that enable a spacecraft perform critical operations autonomously is becoming crucial. In context cislunar space, this research aims investigate state estimation for such highly nonlinear dynamics environment order identify best operational scenarios constraints accurate performance...

Multiple spacecraft formation control about the 2 L libration point is investigated in this paper. The circular restricted three-body problem with Sun and Earth as the two primaries is utilized as a framework of study. The idea of virtual structure is considered as the architecture of multiple spacecraft formation. The center of the virtual rigid body follows a nominal orbit around the 2 L libr...

Spacecraft formation flying has received significant attention over the past decade, it has been a topic of interest because of its unique technical advantages and good application features. Several small, unconnected satellites operating in a coordinated way may achieve a better performance than a monolithic satellite, and possess advantages such as increased instrument resolution, reduced cos...

The Air Force Research Laboratory has identified multiple spacecraft formation flying as an enabling technology for several future space missions. A key benefit of formation flying is the ability to reconfigure the spacecraft formation to achieve different mission objectives. In this paper, generation of fuel optimal manoeuvres for spacecraft formation reconfiguration is modelled and analysed a...

This paper presents hardware-in-the-loop results that experimentally demonstrate precise relative navigation for true formation flying spacecraft applications. The approach is based on carrier-phase differential GPS, which is an ideal navigation sensor for these missions because it provides a direct measure of the relative positions and velocities of the vehicles in the fleet. In preparation fo...

The Cassini-Huygens mission to Saturn is the end of an era for NASA; sending one large spacecraft equipped to carry out a multitude of scientific experiments. Future NASA missions will deploy many smaller spacecrafts in highly controlled spatial configurations in what is referred to as “formation flying.” Among the many challenges to this approach are: maintaining precise relative-positions, at...

The use of Global Positioning System (GPS) technology for satellite formation flying missions has received more attention recently. The Carrier Phase Differential Global Positioning System (CDGPS) technique is generally employed to obtain relative position of a high accuracy. To validate the formation flying CDGPS algorithm, a simulation platform is necessary to simulate the GPS signals receive...

A Space Free-Flying Robot (SFFR) includes an actuated base equipped with one or more manipulators to perform on-orbit missions. Distinct from fixed-based manipulators, the spacecraft (base) of a SFFR responds to dynamic reaction forces due to manipulator motions. In order to control such a system, it is essential to consider the dynamic coupling between the manipulators and the base. Explicit d...