Small Satellite Rendezvous Using Differential Lift and Drag

The potential benefits of using small satellites are expected to increase if they are operated in groups to form “virtual” satellites, which have the same functionality of a much larger satellite but at a fraction of the cost. Unfortunately, due to third body gravitational forces, solar radiation pressure, and other perturbing forces, the satellites will drift apart if no control mechanism is employed to maintain the formation. This work describes a passive technique that uses the differential aerodynamic forces experienced by two spacecraft to exert a modest amount of control over their relative motion. Each spacecraft is assumed to possess a simple flat plate, which can be oriented to produce aerodynamic lift and drag. A control law is developed that allows the relative positions of the satellites to be controlled by adjusting the orientations of the plates. A simulation of a group of two small satellites will be performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method.