Keywords

spacecraft, fuel conservation, interferometry

Abstract

Separated spacecraft interferometry missions will require that spacecraft move in a coordinated fashion to ensure minimal and balanced consumption of fuel. This paper develops strategies for determining interferometry mission plans that result in significant fuel savings over standard approaches. Simulation results demonstrate that valuable reductions in fuel consumption can be realized by combining the retargeting and imaging maneuvers required to image multiple stellar sources. Fuel-optimal imaging strategies have been developed for two-spacecraft interferometry missions similar to the proposed StarLight mission using chained local optimization methods. Based on these strategies, sampling-pattern guidelines for space-borne interferometry missions have been developed.

Original Publication Citation

Bailey, C., McLain, T., and Beard, R. Fuel-Saving Strategies for Dual Spacecraft Interferometry Missions, Journal of the Astronautical Sciences, vol. 49, no. 3, pp. 469-488, July-September 2001.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2001-7

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/3398

Publisher

Springer

Language

English

College

Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering and Technology

Department

Mechanical Engineering

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