The central character of satellite constellation is extending its covering, while the central character of satellite formation flying is extending its base lines. These conceptions have been applied correspondingly. The words, such as fractionated spacecraft, mainly refer to satellite, which leads to a query why a satellite needs to be replaced by a group of satellites. To answer the question, a conception of sat- ellite cluster is proposed, which points out that the member of cluster is not satellite but satellite subsystem. The key point is placed on cluster. The paper points out that the central character of satellite cluster is the cluster relationship between satellites, including the self organized exchange of information, matter and energy. It proposes that cluster relationship, individuation and evolution capability are three social basic characters of satellite cluster, and points that the criterion to determine whether a satellite belongs to a satellite cluster is its social characters. In contrast with the contact between members of human society, the social relationship layers of satellite cluster are forecasted and analyzed. The research result points out that the applications of satellite cluster race is a breakthrough, showing the direction to search satellite cluster＇s representative applications more preponderant than single satellite.%卫星星座的核心特征是扩展覆盖,卫星编队飞行的核心特征是扩展基线,这些相关概念都已找到其突出优势的应用。模块化分离卫星的重点落在了卫星上,容易引起＂为什么用一群卫星取代一颗卫星＂的质疑,对认识集群技术、寻找其有突出优势的应用有误导作用。文章提出了卫星集群的概念,指出集群的组成是个性化的卫星而不是卫星分系统这一事实,重点应落在集群上;提出了卫星集群的核心特征是卫星之间的集群关系,包括信息、物质和能量等的自组织交换;提出了集群关系、个性化特征和进化能力是卫星集群的三个社会化基本特征;指出区分一颗卫星是否属于卫星集群的标准是看该卫星是否具有社会化特征;比对人类社会个体间相互联系,预测和分析了卫星集群的社会层次关系;指出卫星集群族级应用是突破口,为寻找卫星集群相对于单颗卫星具有突出优势的典型应用指出了思路和方向。
展开▼
