Characterizing Network Architecture for Inter-satellite Communication and Relative Navigation in Precise Formation Flying

Precise formation flying (PFF) missions require formation acquisition and maintenance through interactions among spacecraft by inter-satellite communication and relative navigation. That requires the network architecture to satisfy dedicated system constraints of time-criticality for updating navigation measurements and flexibility for...

Relative state estimation and observability for formation flying satellites in the presence of sensor noise

This paper presents an investigation into the relative state estimation and observability for two formation flying satellites using two different relative navigation sensor sets. The first set consists out of a transmitter antenna on one satellite and a single receiver antenna on the other satellite to measure the inter-satellite range using a...

Relative Orbital Element Estimation and Observability Analysis for Formation Flying Satellites using Inter-Satellite Range Measurements Only

This paper investigates to what extent the relative orbital elements of two satellites flying in formation can be estimated making use of inter-satellite range measurements only. Since the determination of relative orbital elements does not require the orientation of the relative orbit with respect to absolute inertial space to be resolved, as...

Fractionated spacecraft: The new sprout in distributed space systems

This paper provides a survey of current state-of-the-art technologies of fractionated spacecraft, a new architecture for distributed space systems. The survey covers six aspects: architecture, networking, wireless communication, wireless power transfer, distributed computing, and planned missions implementing this architecture. As a result of...

Status of the fast mission: Micro-satellite formation flying for technology, science and education

FAST (Formation for Atmospheric Science and Technology demonstration) is a cooperative Dutch Chinese formation flying mission led by Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) in the Netherlands and Tsinghua University in China. It is expected to be the first international micro-satellite formation flying mission to achieve objectives in three...

Towards a miniaturized photon counting laser altimeter and stereoscopic camera instrument suite for microsatellites

In the following we review the optimization for microsatellite deployment of a highly integrated payload suite comprising a high resolution camera, an additional camera for stereoscopic imaging, and a single photon counting laser altimeter. This payload suite, the `Stereo Imaging Laser Altimeter' SILAT has been designated for deployment aboard...

Conceptual Design of the FAST-D Formation Flying Spacecraft

The paper presents the latest results in the design of FAST-D, the Dutch micro-satellite for the Dutch–Chinese FAST (Formation for Atmospheric Science and Technology demonstration) formation flying mission. Over the course of the 2.5 year mission, the two satellites, FAST-D and FAST-T, will demonstrate various new technologies and perform...

Mission Design of the Dutch-Chinese FAST Micro-Satellite Mission

The paper treats the mission design for the Dutch-Chinese FAST (Formation for Atmospheric Science and Technology demonstration) mission. The space segment of the 2.5 year mission consists out of two formation flying micro-satellites. During the mission, new technologies will be demonstrated and, using spectropolarimeter and altimeter payloads on...

Atmospheric aerosol characterization with the Dutch-Chinese fast formation flying mission

Large current uncertainties in the characteristics of aerosols in the Earth’s atmosphere preclude meaningful climate model evaluation. The FAST mission will contribute to the characterization of aerosols and their relation to climate change through a synoptic evaluation of local, regional and global aerosol data and altitude profiles of the...

Increasing system performance and flexibility: Distributed computing and routing of data within the fast formation flying mission

In 2007, the Tsinghua University, China, and the Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands, have agreed to jointly define, develop and operate the Formation for Atmospheric Science and Technology demonstration (FAST) mission. FAST will allow for a synoptic evaluation of global aerosol data and altitude profiles of the cryosphere with two...