High Precision Formation Flying Guidance, Navigation and Control for the PROBA-3 Mission

Paper number

IAC-08.B4.2.5

Author

Mr. Fredrik Sjöberg, Swedish Space Corporation, Sweden

Coauthor

Mr. Björn Jakobsson, Swedish Space Corporation, Sweden

Coauthor

Mr. Anders Karlsson, Swedish Space Corporation, Sweden

Coauthor

Mr. Nils Pokrupa, Swedish Space Corporation, Sweden

Coauthor

Mrs. Eva Sallander, Swedish Space Corporation, Sweden

Coauthor

Mr. Ben Crowe, Swedish Space Corporation, Sweden

Coauthor

Mr. Frédéric Teston, European Space Agency (ESA), The Netherlands

Coauthor

Mr. Franz Burger, European Space Agency (ESA), The Netherlands

Coauthor

Mr. Lorenzo Tarabini-Castellani, GMV S.A., Spain

Coauthor

Ms. Cristina de Negueruela, GMV S.A., Spain

Coauthor

Mr. Salvador Llorente-Martínez, SENER Ingeneria y Sistemas, S.A., Spain

Year

2008

Abstract

Building on the experience from previous and on-going technology demonstration missions – such as the lunar probe mission SMART-1 and the PRISMA rendez-vous and formation flying mission currently in development – Swedish Space Corporation is now leading a European industrial team to develop the PROBA-3 high precision formation flying system for the Technology Demonstration Program of the European Space Agency. PROBA-3 will be the first ESA mission to perform formation flying, and aims at demonstrating generic techniques and technologies needed for future science mission, such as Xeus and Darwin among others. 

PROBA-3 consists of two satellites in sub-millimetre precision formation flying, imitating the observation modes and maneuvers that will be used by two-satellite formation telescopes, such as the giant X-Ray telescope XEUS in the ESA cosmic vision program. The main challenge is to keep the relative position of the two satellites in the formation with high precision, at the same time as the complete two satellite formation shall keep the telescope pointing also with very high accuracy. This is done by the use of micro-meter precision optical metrology systems and high precision propulsion systems in the milli-Newton and micro-Newton thrust ranges, as well as GNC systems specifically developed for the multi-satellite formation flying situation. All those systems will need to be specifically developed to meet the stringent requirements of the PROBA-3 mission. 

PROBA-3 will also carry a coronagraph science instrument, and will hence be an extremely large coronagraph telescope with 150 m between the sensor and the occulting disc. The PROBA-3 Coronagraph telescope will be able to make unprecedented long time observations of the solar corona at the maximum of the current solar cycle.  The Coronagraph mission also provides an excellent demonstration of the PROBA-3 formation flying technologies, since the Coronagraph provides the same type of challenges as other formation flying multi satellite telescope missions. 

PROBA-3 is currently passing from the study phase into the full Phase B/C/D development, aiming for a launch in 2012. The paper will present the PROBA-3 system design, the main technological challenges and the current development status. 

Abstract document

IAC-08.B4.2.5.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-08.B4.2.5.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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