Collision and Evaporation Avoidance for Spacecraft Formation
- Paper number
IAC-08.C1.6.6
- Author
Dr. Gianmarco Radice, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Coauthor
Dr. Malcolm Macdonald, University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom
- Year
2008
- Abstract
Formation flying is an extremely promising approach to space operations with the potential to enable new types of missions and providing a substantial increase in the performance of future space science and Earth observation applications. To successfully validate formation flying however requires the development of specific technologies and methodologies which are beyond current state-of-the art in a wide range of diverse fields such as metrology and spacecraft guidance, navigation and control. A number of missions are currently under different stages of development to implement some of these stringent requirements. The paper develops collision avoidance and formation evaporation algorithms and demonstrates them within a 6 degrees of freedom, multi-spacecraft environment. At first a number of different collision avoidance scenarios will be identified alongside the triggers that will cause the algorithms to be activated. Once activated, the collision avoidance algorithm must ensure corrective action to avoid catastrophic consequences to the mission. Similarly it is critical that the formation is not allowed to evaporate to such an extent that the cost of reconfiguration would significantly shorten the duration of the mission.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-08.C1.6.6.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.