Session
Year in Review Research & Academia
Location
Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Abstract
The Nanosatellites in Formation Flight (NanoFF) mission demonstrates autonomous proximity operations using two 2U CubeSats equipped with resistojet propulsion as well as advanced onboard navigation and communication systems. Launched in December 2023 and deployed into a partial helix orbit in January 2024, NanoFF has conducted precision formation flight and cooperative inter-satellite operations relevant to future small-satellite constellations. This paper presents recent in-orbit results obtained during an extended operational phase of the mission. Both spacecraft are equipped with GNSS receivers enabling precise position and orbit determination. A key architectural element is the use of an inter-satellite link (ISL) in the ultra high frequency (UHF) band for the exchange of GNSS data. Raw and processed GNSS measurements are transferred in orbit, forming the basis for future enhanced relative navigation concepts. Inter-satellite autonomous navigation reduces reliance on ground communication and enables navigation coupling between constellation members. The NanoFF mission further emphasizes GNSS data recording, processing, and sharing. Both satellites continuously acquire raw GNSS measurements and navigation solutions, which are downlinked via a high-speed S-band communication system. Selected data sets are curated and made available to the scientific community, supporting research in relative navigation, precise orbit determination, and GNSS signal quality monitoring. Based on raw data processing, the mission also investigates radio-frequency interference within these frequency bands. This paper presents first results from these interference analyses. Finally, inter-satellite imaging campaigns during close-approach phases are presented. These observations enable future visual-based relative navigation experiments via dual-use miniature star trackers. NanoFF has thus shown its ability to perform autonomous formation control, cooperative GNSS-based navigation, and important data collection, with direct applicability to future distributed and constellation-based missions.
Document Type
Event
In-Orbit Results of Autonomous Formation Flight and GNSS-Based Relative Navigation in the NanoFF Mission
Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, UT
The Nanosatellites in Formation Flight (NanoFF) mission demonstrates autonomous proximity operations using two 2U CubeSats equipped with resistojet propulsion as well as advanced onboard navigation and communication systems. Launched in December 2023 and deployed into a partial helix orbit in January 2024, NanoFF has conducted precision formation flight and cooperative inter-satellite operations relevant to future small-satellite constellations. This paper presents recent in-orbit results obtained during an extended operational phase of the mission. Both spacecraft are equipped with GNSS receivers enabling precise position and orbit determination. A key architectural element is the use of an inter-satellite link (ISL) in the ultra high frequency (UHF) band for the exchange of GNSS data. Raw and processed GNSS measurements are transferred in orbit, forming the basis for future enhanced relative navigation concepts. Inter-satellite autonomous navigation reduces reliance on ground communication and enables navigation coupling between constellation members. The NanoFF mission further emphasizes GNSS data recording, processing, and sharing. Both satellites continuously acquire raw GNSS measurements and navigation solutions, which are downlinked via a high-speed S-band communication system. Selected data sets are curated and made available to the scientific community, supporting research in relative navigation, precise orbit determination, and GNSS signal quality monitoring. Based on raw data processing, the mission also investigates radio-frequency interference within these frequency bands. This paper presents first results from these interference analyses. Finally, inter-satellite imaging campaigns during close-approach phases are presented. These observations enable future visual-based relative navigation experiments via dual-use miniature star trackers. NanoFF has thus shown its ability to perform autonomous formation control, cooperative GNSS-based navigation, and important data collection, with direct applicability to future distributed and constellation-based missions.
