A planning tool for optimal three-dimensional formation flight maneuvers of satellites in VLEO using aerodynamic lift and drag via yaw angle deviations

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel planning tool for three-dimensional satellite formation maneuvers in VLEO, leveraging differential lift and drag to optimize trajectories while considering orbital perturbations and maximizing satellite lifetime.

Contribution

The paper presents a high-fidelity, flexible planning tool that controls all three degrees of freedom using yaw angle deviations, a capability not previously available in literature.

Findings

Trajectories for three different formation maneuvers demonstrated.

The method minimizes orbital decay, extending satellite lifetime.

The tool accounts for atmospheric density variations and co-rotation effects.

Abstract

Differential drag is a promising option to control the relative motion of distributed satellites in the Very Low Earth Orbit regime which are not equipped with dedicated thrusting devices. A major downside of the methodology, however, is that its control authority is (mainly) limited to the in-plane relative motion control. By additionally applying differential lift, however, all three translational degrees-of-freedom become controllable. In this article, we present a tool to flexibly plan optimal three-dimensional formation flight maneuvers via differential lift and drag. In the planning process, the most significant perturbing effects in this orbital regime, namely the J2 effect and atmospheric forces, are taken into account. Moreover, varying atmospheric densities as well as the co-rotation of the atmosphere are considered. Besides its flexible and high-fidelity nature, the major assets of the proposed methodology are that the in-and out-of-plane relative motion are controlled simultaneously via deviations in the yaw angles of the respective satellites and that the planned trajectory is optimal in a sense that the overall decay during the maneuver is minimized. Thereby, the remaining lifetime of the satellites is maximized and the practicability and sustainability of the methodology significantly increased. To the best of the authors knowledge, a tool with the given capabilities has not yet been presented in literature. The resulting trajectories for three fundamentally different relevant formation flight maneuvers are presented and discussed in detail in order to indicate the vast range of applicability of the tool.