The features of constellations׳ formation and replenishment at near circular orbits in non-central gravity fields

•Formation and replenishment of constellations functioning at near-circular orbits.•Satellite׳s non-coplanar transition to another orbital position.•The analytical relations for passive circuits number at the drift orbit.•Different types of constellations orbiting the Earth, the Moon and Mars.•Maneuvering space vehicles for high-dimensioned space debris collection.

The article is devoted to cost estimations of summary characteristic velocity (SCV) required for formation and replenishment of constellations functioning at circular and near-circular orbits in non-central gravity fields. Satellite׳s non-coplanar transition to another orbital position is studied by the example of orbiting the Earth, the Moon and Mars. The SCV costs optimization for maneuvering is based on using the drift orbit. The SCV costs in case of different possible combinations of values of initial and final orbit parameters were investigated. The attendant effects were analyzed which if used allow SCV costs׳ significant minimization. The analytical relations were found which determine a number of passive circuits at the drift orbit which is a compromise between time and SCV costs for coplanar transitions. The results can be used while projecting and exploiting different types of constellations. After all, the obtained results are applicable in exploiting the maneuvering space vehicles which are supposed to be designed for large size space debris collection.