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Fuel-Saving Strategies for Dual Spacecraft Interferometry Missions

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Abstract

Separated spacecraft interferometry missions will require that spacecraft move in a coordinated fashion to ensure minimal and balanced consumption of fuel. This paper develops strategies for determining interferometry mission plans that result in significant fuel savings over standard approaches. Simulation results demonstrate that valuable reductions in fuel consumption can be realized by combining the retargeting and imaging maneuvers required to image multiple stellar sources. Fuel-optimal imaging strategies have been developed for two-spacecraft interferometry missions similar to the proposed StarLight mission using chained local optimization methods. Based on these strategies, sampling-pattern guidelines for space-borne interferometry missions have been developed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. NTT/Verio-SME Hosting, Orem, Utah, 84097, USA

    Christopher A. Bailey

  2. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, 84602

    Timothy W. McLain & Randal W. Beard

Authors
  1. Christopher A. Bailey
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  2. Timothy W. McLain
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  3. Randal W. Beard
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Bailey, C.A., McLain, T.W. & Beard, R.W. Fuel-Saving Strategies for Dual Spacecraft Interferometry Missions. J of Astronaut Sci 49, 469–488 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03546233

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03546233

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