Relative Orbit Control of a Virtual Telescope in an Eccentric Orbit

Kurzfassung

The goal of this study is to find an appropriate control law for a constellation of two spacecraft in flight formation that constitutes a virtual telescope for Sun’s corona observation. During scientific operations, both satellites should be aligned with the Sun, thus, one of the spacecraft projects its shadow to the other while orbiting the Earth on a High Eccentricity Orbit. This mission characteristic has a direct impact on the relative dynamics, since the relative Solar Radiation Pressure between spacecraft has a higher effect to the dynamics than the Earth’s gravity harmonics and the Sun and Moon perturbations. Based on this result, we explore the applicability and performances of several continuous controls based on pole placement techniques.