A parametric constellation using relative critical inclination of satellites

Abstract

This study presents a strategy for designing a swarm configuration that minimises the J2 effect through the combination of the recently proposed parametric constellations and relative critical inclinations that set to zero the J2-induced drifts of satellites. Parametric constellations are a theory of optimised multiple deputy satellites to have a single identical constellation pattern with respect to the chief satellite. However, when J2 perturbation is considered in the design of parametric constellations, the relative orbit drifts over time, and the closed periodic condition is not established. Thus, the application of parametric constellations is limited, and control is required to maintain consistent relative orbits between satellites. This study efficiently solves the complicated multiple satellite dynamics problem under J2 perturbation by presenting a set of methods to minimise the control effort and fuel budget by designing parametric constellations based on relative critical inclinations.