Development and Verification of the Technique for Forming and Orbital Keeping of the CubeSat Format Small Spacecraft Cluster

Aeronautical and Space-Rocket Engineering


Аuthors

Bogatyrev A. M.*, Denisov P. V.**, Medvedev S. A.***, Koval'chuk E. A.****

Special Technology Center (STC), Saint-Petersburg, Russia

*e-mail: abogatyrev@stc-spb.ru
**e-mail: pv.denisov@stc-spb.ru
***e-mail: svatmedved99@gmail.com
****e-mail: ekovalchuk@stc-spb.ru

Abstract

The article presents a technique developed by the STC LLC specialists for forming and sustaining the Cubesat format small spacecraft cluster. As a rule, small spacecraft are being launched into their operational orbits as an associated payload on upper stages. After undocking from the upper stage, their own and relative motion must be adjusted so that the vehicles proceed their flight in orbits almost synchronously and in a certain position relative to each other. These conditions will allow correctly performing the target tasks within the payload framework of the Cubesat format spacecraft.
However, when performing maneuvers to adjust the small spacecraft movement, one should not forget as well about the additional conditions and restrictions imposed by the small size of these vehicles. For example, restrictions such as maximum duration of a single maneuver and maximum pulse size, pulse discreteness, as well as illuminance of the orbital segment on which the maneuver is being performed are stipulated by the peculiarities of the power supply system and the system of orientation and stabilization.
The developed technique allows forming a cluster of small spacecraft after their undocking from the upper stage with account for all imposed restrictions and additional conditions. This technique allows as well sustaining the formed cluster throughout the active existence of the small spacecraft.
The technique consists of four stages:
• Initial data forming (parameters of the small spacecraft orbits, parameters of the spacecraft themselves and the remote control characteristics as a part of the small spacecraft).
• Cluster forming algorithm.
• Cluster sustaining algorithm.
• Obtaining information about the working fluid expenditure in the propulsion system.
Besides, at the first stage, it is necessary prior to the cluster forming starting to determine the required distance between small spacecraft, the rate and direction of change of this distance to fulfill specific objectives. The algorithms for the cluster forming and sustaining consist in repetitive comparison of the set and current distance values, the rate and direction of distance changing, computing the moments of pulse output by the propulsion system and controlling the working fluid consumption.
The technique verification was performed based on the two small Cubesat-format spacecraft manufactured by Special Technology Center LLC. The CSTP-1.1 small spacecraft and PU-3 (NORAD ID CSTP-1.1 smallsat – 57202, PU-3 smallsat – 57191) were launched into orbit on June 27, 2023 in conjunction with the Meteor-M hydro-meteorological spacecraft. As the result of the cluster formation algorithm, these devices reached the required distance range in two months. From October 2023 to the present time, the CSTP-1.1 and PU-3 spacecraft have been operating in orbit in a cluster formation at a distance of 150 to 300 km relative to each other due to the cluster sustaining algorithm.
Thus, the presented methodology for forming and sustaining a of small spacecraft cluster may become the basis of a small spacecraft onboard computer program for autonomous operation of the algorithms presented in the article.

Keywords:

small spacecraft cluster, cluster forming-up, transversal maneuver, cluster forming and sustaining technique, verification of the technique

References

  1.  Werner D. Hawkeye 360 unveils first RF signal mapping product. 2019. URL: https://spacenews.com/Hawkeye-360-unveils-first-rf-signal-mapping-product/
  2. UniverSat small spacecraft launch program. Roskosmos. (In Russ.). URL: https://www.roscosmos.ru/23836/
  3.  NewSpace Index. 2023. URL: https://www.newspace.im/constellations/spacety
  4.  Launched missions: SITRO-AIS. Sputniks by Sitronics. (In Russ.). URL: https://sputnix.ru/ru/sputniki/na-orbite/sitro-ais
  5.  Shcherbakov MS, Medvedev SA. Study of the possibility of application of osculating ellipses of relative motion in the problem of inspection of space objects. Trudy “NPTsAP”. Sistemy i pribory upravleniya. 2023(2):42-50. (In Russ.).
  6.  Space activities: Launches. Roscosmos. (In Russ.). URL: https://www.roscosmos.ru/39437/
  7.  Belokonov IV. Calculation of ballistic characteristics of spacecraft motion. Samara: SGAU; 1994. 77 p. (In Russ.).
  8.  Gusev AF. Applied theory of oscillations. Tver: TGTU; 2017. 160 p. (In Russ.).
  9.  Chou X, Ishkov SA. Filippov GA. Optimal control of spacecraft relative motion by the response rate criterion on near-circular orbits. Aerospace MAI Journal. 2023;30(3):163-173. (In Russ.).
  10.  Dzesov RA, Zhukov VN, Melnikov EK et al. Ballistic analysis of fast scheme for rendezvous between transport vehicles and the international space station. Aerospace MAI Journal. 2014;21(3):73–79. (In Russ.).
  11.  Ma H, Xu S. Global optimization of fuel consumption in rendezvous scenarios by the method of interval analysis. Advances in Space Research. 2015;55(6):1687-1704. DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2015.01.001
  12.  Chou X, Ishkov SA, Filippov GA. Optimal Control of the Spacecraft Relative Motion on Near-Circular Orbits with Limitations on the Thrust Direction. Aerospace MAI Journal. 2024;31(1):204-214. (In Russ.).
  13.  Volotsuev VV, Tkachenko IS. Introduction to the design, construction and production of rockets. Samara: Samarskii universitet; 2017. 88 p.
  14.  Babanina OV, Gasanbekov KN, Prokhorenko IS. Correcting propulsion unit for freon running nano-satellites. Aerospace MAI Journal. 2023;30(3):136-146. (In Russ.).
  15.  Khromov AV. Interaction of the corrective propulsion system with the spacecraft orientation system. Voprosy elektromekhaniki. 2012;127(2):27-32. (In Russ.).
  16.  Boiko LA, Cherevko EYu, Ratnikov AA et al. Theoretical mechanics. Sections “Dynamics” and “Analytical Mechanics”. 2nd ed. Vladivostok: DFU; 2023. 96 p. (In Russ.).
  17.  Sukhanov AA. Astrodynamics. Moscow: IKI RAN; 2010. 201 p. (In Russ.).
  18.  Belokonov VM. Dynamics of spacecraft flight: Lecture notes. Kuibyshev: KuAI; 1985. 53 p. (In Russ.).
  19.  Belokonov IV. Statistical analysis of dynamic systems (analysis of aircraft movement under conditions of statistical uncertainty). Samara: SGAU; 2001. 64 p. (In Russ.).
  20.  Laboratory of Solar Astronomy of IKI and ISSF. Magnetic storms online. 2024. (In Russ.). URL: https://xras.ru/magnetic_storms.html?m=5&d=12&y=2024
  21.  Kulvits AV, Zhitnikov TA, Mikheev OY. Theoretical aspects of the formation of a cluster of small spacecraft. Trudy MAI. 2022(125). (In Russ.). DOI: 10.34759/trd-2022-125-19
  22.  Potyupkin AYu, Danilin NS, Selivanov AS. Small satellites clusters – a new type of space objects. Rocket-Space Device Engineering and Information Systems. 2017;4(4):45–56. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.17238/issn2409-0239.2017.4.45

mai.ru — informational site of MAI

Copyright © 1994-2025 by MAI