A Fault Detection and Diagnosis Technique for Spacecraft in Formation Flying

The objective of this paper is to develop Fault Detection and Diagnosis (FDD) algorithms for spacecraft attitude control system actuators. In particular, the FDD algorithms are developed for an Attitude Control System (ACS) actuator in the Japan Canada Joint Collaboration Satellite Formation Flying mission (JC2Sat-FF). The main issue of this research concerns with the detection and diagnosis of actuator faults in momentum wheels, which are the main ACS actuators of the satellites in the mission. The fault detection and diagnosis are accomplished by using an Interacting Multiple Model (IMM) approach. The effectiveness and the efficiency of the fault detection and diagnosis algorithm are shown through simulation results in a high-fidelity nonlinear simulator based on the JC2Sat-FF mission. The proposed FDD algorithm can be readily extended for momentum wheels in other space missions.