This paper describes the underlying dynamics of formation flying in a high-eccentricity orbit such as that of the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission. The GPS-based results used for MMS navigation is summarized, as well as the procedures that are used to design the maneuvers used to place the spacecraft into a tetrahedron formation and then maintain it. The details of how to carry out these maneuvers are then discussed. Finally, the numerical results that have been obtained concerning formation flying for the MMS mission to date (e.g. tetrahedron sizes flown, maneuver execution error, fuel usage, etc.) are presented in detail.
Initial Satellite Formation Flight Results from the Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission
AIAA/AAS Astrodynamics Specialist Conference ; 2016 ; Long Beach, CA, United States
2016-09-13
Conference paper
No indication
English
INITIAL SATELLITE FORMATION FLIGHT RESULTS FROM THE MAGNETOSPHERIC MULTISCALE MISSION
British Library Conference Proceedings | 2016
|