Development and Laboratory Verification of Control Algorithms for Formation Flying Configuration with a Single-Input Impulsive Control

Abstract

Once been orbited, the technological nanosatellite TNS-0 is supposed to be used in one of the next missions for the demonstration of orbital maneuvering capability to eliminate a secular relative motion of two satellites due to J2 harmonic of the Earth’s gravitational field. It is assumed that the longitudinal axis of the satellite is stabilized along the induction vector of the geomagnetic field and a thruster engine is installed along this axis. Continuous and impulse thruster control algorithms eliminating the secular relative motion have been developed. For demonstration and laboratory testing of the satellite motion identification and control algorithms, special equipment was developed in ZARM. The facility consists of a horizontal smooth table and mobile mock-up that enables to glide over the table surface due to compressed air stored in on-board pressure tank. Compressed air is used to control the translation and attitude motion of the mock-up equipped with a number of pulse thrusters. In this work a dynamical model for mock-up controlled motion over the table is developed. This allows to simulate a relative motion of pair of TNS-0 type nanosatellites in the plane of the orbit.