Formation Flying through Geodesic Motion and the Different Geometrical Requirements
Abstract
We investigated the possibility of preserving a preset plane flying formation through geodesic (free) motion around an attractive center. After a series of approximations, we obtained a first order solution for this problem (the small parameter of the approximation series is set by the characteristic length of the formation and by an eccentricity-like factor, which is related to the trajectory of the geometrical center of the formation). Such a solution consists in a collection of Keplerian solutions with the same period. The free movement of these bodies creates the impression of a united motion (like in a rigid body motion), at least in the first order of approximation. The instantaneous plane described by the formation experience a precessional motion with respect to a fixed direction, in the same way we know from the kinematics of the LISA mission. We calculated the relative errors for a regular hexagonal formation, for different side lengths, for one period of time.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA478833
Entities
People
- Catalin Cucu-dumitrescu
- Marius-ioan Piso
Organizations
- Romanian Academy of Sciences