Session
Session 8: Frank J. Redd Student Competition
Abstract
A guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) system is presented for formation flying missions with variable geometry and fixed time reconfiguration. The drift recovery and station-keeping algorithms developed for the successful CanX-4 and CanX-5 formation flying demonstration are extended to include formation geometries with arbitrary baselines in the along-track and cross-track directions, and to achieve a formation configuration within a specified time. A discussion of the navigation filters used for the CanX-4 and CanX-5 mission is also presented, and the accuracy of a simplified orbit determination technique that would reduce computational complexity and minimize operator involvement is investigated. The added and enhanced capabilities of this ground-based GNC system are described with an emphasis on an operational mission framework designed for scientific and commercial applications. The system is demonstrated with on-orbit data from CanX-4 and CanX-5.
Guidance, Navigation, and Control for Commercial and Scientific Applications of Formation Flying
A guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) system is presented for formation flying missions with variable geometry and fixed time reconfiguration. The drift recovery and station-keeping algorithms developed for the successful CanX-4 and CanX-5 formation flying demonstration are extended to include formation geometries with arbitrary baselines in the along-track and cross-track directions, and to achieve a formation configuration within a specified time. A discussion of the navigation filters used for the CanX-4 and CanX-5 mission is also presented, and the accuracy of a simplified orbit determination technique that would reduce computational complexity and minimize operator involvement is investigated. The added and enhanced capabilities of this ground-based GNC system are described with an emphasis on an operational mission framework designed for scientific and commercial applications. The system is demonstrated with on-orbit data from CanX-4 and CanX-5.
