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Control of interferometric spacecraft arrays for (u, v) plane coverage in multi-body regimes

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Abstract

Libration point orbits may be advantageous locations for spacecraft imaging formations. Therefore, control of these arrays in multi-body regimes is critical. Ideally, the motion of spacecraft within an imaging array minimizes fuel usage while maximizing resolution of a distant object in some mission-specified frequency band. Maximizing image resolution implies adequate coverage of the (u, v) plane in a specified observation time. In the current work, an optimization problem to minimize fuel usage while maximizing an image metric is formulated in the circular restricted three-body problem. Optimization is simplified by subdividing the task into two distinct smaller problems: imaging optimization and fuel optimization. Then, these problems are solved separately. Image reconstruction and coverage of the (u, v) plane are simulated for interferometric spacecraft configurations, demonstrating potential applications of the algorithm and the resulting motion.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Purdue University, 701 W. Stadium Ave., West Lafayette, Indiana, 47907, USA

    Lindsay D. Millard (Ph.D. candidate)

  2. School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Purdue University, 701 W. Stadium Ave., West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA

    Kathleen C. Howell (Hsu Lo Professor of Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering)

Authors
  1. Lindsay D. Millard
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  2. Kathleen C. Howell
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Additional information

A previous version of this paper received the Best Paper Award, AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Meeting, Sedona, Arizona, January 2007.

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Millard, L.D., Howell, K.C. Control of interferometric spacecraft arrays for (u, v) plane coverage in multi-body regimes. J of Astronaut Sci 56, 71–97 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03256542

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