On the Theory of Uniform Satellite Constellation Reconfiguration

TL;DR

This paper analyzes strategies for reconfiguring uniformly distributed satellite constellations, focusing on safety, efficiency, and symmetry, by leveraging properties of Flower Constellations.

Contribution

It introduces new approaches for reconfiguring satellite constellations considering uniformity, symmetry, and safety constraints, expanding the theoretical understanding of constellation management.

Findings

Reconfiguration strategies maintain minimum safety distances.

Methods optimize satellite positions during reconfiguration.

Approaches leverage symmetry properties of Flower Constellations.

Abstract

This work focuses on the study of the reconfiguration strategies available for uniformly distributed satellite constellations and slotting architectures. Particularly, this manuscript deals with the cases of reducing, maintaining, and also increasing the number of available positions for satellites in the space structure, and takes into account the potential minimum distances between spacecraft in the configuration to assure the safety of the system. To that end, several approaches to solve the reconfiguration problem are presented based on the properties of Flower Constellations, and more particularly, on the properties of uniformity and symmetries present in these uniform distributions.