High-precision single-input control of relative motion in spacecraft formation

► We study relative motion of two passively stabilized satellites in a close formation. ► The orbit control thrusters are placed along the stabilized axis of deputy satellite. ► We use a Newton method to construct periodic relative trajectories in nonlinear model. ► The control law obtained in the linearized model is used as an initial approximation. ► The method greatly improves the control accuracy and the relative trajectory tracking.