Formation dynamics in geostationary ring.
- Resource Type
- Article
- Authors
- Spiridonova, Sofya
- Source
- Celestial Mechanics & Dynamical Astronomy. Aug2016, Vol. 125 Issue 4, p485-500. 16p.
- Subject
- *ORBITAL spacing of geostationary satellites
*ORBITAL assembly of space vehicles
*RELATIVE motion
*ASTRONOMICAL perturbation
*SOLAR radiation
*GRAVITATION
- Language
- ISSN
- 0923-2958
A relative motion model for a satellite formation composed of two Earth-orbiting spacecraft located in the geostationary ring is developed taking into account major gravitational and non-gravitational forces. A previously existing model featuring perturbation due to $$J_2$$ is enhanced by the perturbations due to solar radiation pressure arising from unequal area-to-mass ratios, as well as the secular and long-periodic gravitational perturbations due to the Sun and the Moon. The extended relative motion model is validated using several typical formation geometries against a reference generated by numerical integration of the absolute orbits of the two spacecraft. The results of this work can find application in future on-orbit servicing and formation flying missions in near-geostationary orbit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]