Orbital Mechanics and Formation Flying : A Digital Control Approach

Formation flying or constellations, has become a key research topic in the last few years.  It describes a group of satellites in a certain configuration that, simultaneously, perform different experiments and analysis.  This book provides a practical approach to explain the orbital mechanics and control equations of formation flying.  The authors discuss orbital perturbations, frame rotations, attitude dynamics, environmental and actuator torques and control systems of a single satellite in motion before building up to multiple satellites working in sync and the deployment and reconfiguration procedures that are required to launch them. 

-Explains the orbital motion and principal perturbations affecting the satellite

-Uses the Ares V rocket as an example to explain the attitude motion of a space vehicle

-Presents the practical approach for different control actuators that can be used in a satellite

-Develops the classical, intelligent, and adaptive control schemes in the discrete domain

-Formulates and solves the deployment, reconfiguration, and station keeping for a constellation in the discrete domain