Probabilistic Connectivity Analysis of Recursive Satellite Release for Formation Initialization

TL;DR

This paper develops a probabilistic framework for the initial deployment of satellite formations, ensuring safe inter-satellite distances despite deployment errors and uncertainties.

Contribution

It introduces a stochastic modeling approach with closed-form constraints to guarantee formation safety during satellite deployment.

Findings

Monte Carlo simulations confirm the effectiveness of the derived constraints.

The framework translates separation constraints into hardware requirement specifications.

Probabilistic guarantees improve reliability of large-scale satellite formation initialization.

Abstract

In the initial deployment of large-scale distributed space systems using small satellites, achieving a reliable transition to passively stable orbits while maintaining inter-satellite distances within effective control and communication ranges is crucial, particularly given the presence of deployment errors and uncontrolled coasting phases. This study presents a framework for designing formation initialization that provides probabilistic safety guarantees. The scope covers the initial deployment phase, from sequential release by a single carrier to commissioning, control activation, and transition to passive stabilization. Strict separation limits during initialization necessitate low release velocities to minimize relative drift before control activation. However, in the low-velocity regime, the allowable tolerances for release velocity and angular rate errors tighten significantly to satisfy distance constraints, making hardware requirements a critical bottleneck. To address this, we model the initialization sequence as a stochastic process and derive closed-form constraints on deployment errors and control activation intervals. These conditions ensure that inter-satellite distances remain within the allowable separation limit with a prescribed probability. Monte Carlo simulations, configured using the error bounds and intervals derived from the proposed constraints, demonstrate that inter-satellite distances are successfully maintained within the allowable range. The proposed framework enables the safe initialization of large-scale distributed space systems by translating strict separation constraints into quantifiable hardware requirements.