In this paper an optimal control problem to enable reconfiguration maneuvers for formation-flying is presented. In the framework of the CWH equations, micro-spacecraft with high area-to-mass ratio and small length-scale are considered. As a control strategy, a propellant-free approach is introduced which exploits differential solar radiation pressure by means of electrochromic coating. Due to the advances in miniaturised technology, a great number of electromechanical devices can be manufactured and deployed at low cost with active sensors on-board. A new class of space missions is enabled, based on swarms of micro-spacecraft with sensing, computing, bi-directional communicating and micro-power sources. The exploitation of Earth remote sensing from Space becomes more accessible to a wider community, taking advantage of the unique geometrical pattern of the arrays of micro-spacecraft enabled by the relative orbital dynamics.
展开▼
