Formation Control of Spacecraft under orbital perturbation

The novel concept of multiple spacecraft formation flying as a substitute for a single large vehicle will enhance future space mission performance. The benefits of a spacecraft formation include more cost effective synthetic aperture radar for observations, flexibility of the satellites altering their roles, reduction of cost owing to the reduction of mass launched into orbit etc. A significant challenge in the domain of control design is to contrive a formation maintenance controller that will enable the member spacecrafts to maintain a desired relative orbit with optimal propellant expenditure while maintaining the desired formation. This paper examines a low earth orbit formation control methodology, with the aim of evaluating formation from a propellant budget, thrust level and error dynamics standpoint. A State feedback controller has been applied on J2 perturbed Clohessy-Wiltshire dynamics, and the system is checked for its stability and performance.