Fuel-optimal satellite formation reconfiguration method with best passive safety parameters

Abstract

This paper investigates the problem of satellite formation reconfiguration from the best passive safety parameters while ensuring the minimum fuel cost and desired formation configuration. Based on the relative eccentricity and inclination vectors, a hybrid method is proposed that combines the analytical solution and the genetic algorithm optimization method. It transforms the fuel-optimal conditions into the constraints of optimization model, which theoretically ensures the optimal fuel cost. The proposed hybrid approach is applicable to satellite formation reconfiguration problems with variable relative eccentricity and inclination vectors and passive safety concerns. Compared with the optimal three-impulse strategy and the analytical method in two different reconfiguration scenarios, the proposed method is proven to be more general and has advantages in passive safety performance.