Orbit evolution, maintenance and disposal of SpaceChip swarms
Colombo, C. and Lucking, Charlotte and McInnes, C.R. (2010) Orbit evolution, maintenance and disposal of SpaceChip swarms. In: 6th International Workshop on Satellite Constellation andFormation Flying, IWSCFF 2010, 2010-01-01 - 2010-01-03.
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Abstract
The combined effect of solar radiation pressure and atmospheric drag is investigated for future mission conceptsfor swarms of satellites-on-a-chip (SpaceChips). The natural evolution of the swarm is exploited to perform spatially distributed measurements of the upper layers of the atmosphere. The energy gain from asymmetric solar radiation pressure can be used to balance the energy dissipation from atmospheric drag. An algorithm for long-term orbit control is then designed, based on changing the reflectivity coefficient of the SpaceChips. The subsequent modulation of the solar radiation pressure allows stabilisation of the swarm in the orbital element phase space. It is shown that the normally short orbit lifetime for such devices can be extended through the interaction of solar radiation pressure and atmospheric drag and indeed selected and the end-of-life re-entry of the swarm can be ensured, by exploiting atmospheric drag.
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Item type: Conference or Workshop Item(Paper) ID code: 41239 Dates: DateEvent1 November 2010PublishedSubjects: Technology > Mechanical engineering and machinery
Technology > Motor vehicles. Aeronautics. AstronauticsDepartment: Faculty of Engineering > Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Depositing user: Pure Administrator Date deposited: 26 Sep 2012 08:50 Last modified: 04 Jun 2024 00:46 Related URLs: URI: https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/41239