An image-based servo controller for the guidance of a spacecraft during non-cooperative rendezvous is presented in this paper. The controller directly utilizes the visual features from image frames of a target spacecraft for computing both attitude and orbital maneuvers concurrently. The utilization of adaptive optics, such as zooming cameras, is also addressed through developing an invariant-image servo controller. The controller allows for performing rendezvous maneuvers independently from the adjustments of the camera focal length, improving the performance and versatility of maneuvers. The stability of the proposed control scheme is proven analytically in the invariant space, and its viability is explored through numerical simulations.

This paper proposes an image-based control scheme for tracking space debris using onboard optical sensors. The proposed strategy uses an onboard camera for detecting space debris. The camera is rigidly attached to the satellite; therefore specific attitude maneuvers need to be performed during different phases of the mission. First, the spacecraft orients its attitude to point the camera toward a fixed direction in space, and then when debris traces streak across the field of view of the camera, the spacecraft follows and tracks the motion of the debris. Finally, a disengagement maneuver is executed to stop the spacecraft rotation when the debris disappears from the camera field of view. The model and the developed control scheme take into account the typical characteristics of space-qualified cameras, and a Kalman filter is developed to reduce the effects of the camera noise, detect and predict the path of the debris in the image plane, and estimate the angular velocity of the spacecraft. The entire estimation/control scheme is then validated through numerical simulations, using a model of reaction wheels as the main attitude actuation system. The results demonstrate the viability of such maneuvers in a typical space debris surveillance mission scenario.

At the ISSS 2013, a novel concept of variable-geometry solar sail was introduced: deployed in the shape of a three-dimensional quasi-rhombic pyramid (QRP), the sail exploited its shape and shift between center of mass and center of pressure to naturally achieve heliostability (stable sun-pointing) throughout the mission. In addition, mechanisms allowed to vary the flare angle of the four booms in opposite pairs, thus allowing to control the area exposed to the sun without the need of slew maneuvers. Using these adjustments in favorable orbital positions, it is possible to build a regular pattern of acceleration to achieve orbit raising or lowering without the need of propulsion system or attitude control. Subsequent more detailed investigations revealed that eclipses, even if lasting only a fraction of the orbit, have a substantial (and negative) impact on the heliostability effect: and even a small residual angular velocity, or disturbance torque, are enough to cause the spacecraft to tumble. In this work, we present a novel and improved concept which allows the sail to preserve its attitude not only with eclipses, but also in presence of disturbance torques such as the gravity gradient. The solution we propose is to add a moderate spin to the solar sail, combined with ring dampers. The gyroscopic stiffness due to the spin guarantees stability during the transient periods of the eclipses, while the heliostability effect, combined with the dampers, cancels any residual unwanted oscillation during the parts of the orbit exposed to the sun, and at the same time guarantees continuous sun-pointing as the apparent direction of the sun rotates throughout the year. Both theoretical and numerical analyses are performed. First, stability bounds on the sail design are calculated, obtaining conditions on the flare angles of the sail, in the different orbital regimes, to test the robustness of the concept. Then, a numerical analysis is performed to validate the study in a simulated scenario where all perturbations are considered, over extended amount of time. The concept targets equatorial orbits above approximately 5,000 km. Results show that an increase of 2,200 km per year for a small device at GEO can be achieved with a CubeSat-sized sail.

This paper discusses the attitude coordination of a formation of multiple spacecraft for space debris surveillance. Off-the-shelf optical sensors and reaction wheels, with limited field of view and control torque, respectively, are considered to be used onboard the spacecraft for performing the required attitude maneuvers to detect and track space debris. The sequence of attitude commands are planned by a proposed algorithm, which allows for a dynamic team formation, as well as performing suitable maneuvers to eventually point towards the same debris. A control scheme based on the nonlinear state dependent Riccati equation is designed and applied to the space debris surveillance mission scenario, and its performance is compared with those of the classic linear quadratic regulator and quaternion feedback proportional derivative controllers. The viability and performance of the coordination algorithm and the controllers are validated through numerical simulations.

This paper explores the viability and performance of a new algorithm for in-orbit space debris surveillance, which utilizes a network of distributed optical sensors carried onboard multiple spacecraft flying in formation. The resulting network of spacecraft is able to autonomously detect unknown debris, as well as track the existing ones, estimate their trajectories, and send the estimation results directly to the mission control centers for planning the required collision avoidance maneuvers. The proposed concept includes (a) an estimation algorithm that allows for sharing observations of common debris objects among spacecraft; (b) a coordination algorithm for the re-orientation of an ad hoc team of spacecraft to align their onboard optical sensors towards common targets; and (c) a control algorithm for the detection and tracking of the debris which uses vision-based attitude maneuvers.

This paper proposes a new mission concept devoted to the identification and tracking of space debris through observations made by multiple spacecraft. Specifically, a formation of spacecraft has been designed taking into account the characteristics and requirements of the utilized optical sensors as well as the constraints imposed by sun illumination and visibility conditions. The debris observations are then shared among the team of spacecraft, and processed onboard of a “hosting leader” to estimate the debris motion by means of Kalman filtering techniques. The primary contribution of this paper resides on the application of a distributed coordination architecture, which provides an autonomous and robust ability to dynamically form spacecraft teams once the target has been detected, and to dynamically build a processing network for the orbit determination of space debris. The team performance, in terms of accuracy, readiness and number of the detected objects, is discussed through numerical simulations.

The paper investigates some analytical and numerical aspects of the formation control exploited by means of inter-spacecraft electrostatic actions. The analysis is based on the evaluation and check of the stability issues by using a sequence of purposely defined Lyapunov functions. The same Lyapunov approach can also define a specific under-actuate control strategy for controlling selected “virtual links” of the formation. Two different selection criteria for these links are then discussed, showing the implications on the control chain. An optimal charge distribution strategy, which assigns univocally the charges to all the spacecraft starting from the charge products computed by the control, is also presented and discussed. Numerical simulations prove the suitability of the proposed approach to a formation of 4 satellites.

A variable-geometry solar sail for on-orbit altitude control is investigated. It is shown that, by adjusting the effective area of the sail at favorable times, it is possible to influence the length of the semimajor axis over an extended period of time. This solution can be implemented by adopting a spinning quasi-rhombic pyramidal solar sail that provides the heliostability needed to maintain a passive sun-pointing attitude and the freedom to modify the shape of the sail at any time. In particular, this paper investigates the variable-geometry concept through both theoretical and numerical analyses. Stability bounds on the sail design are calculated by means of a first-order analysis, producing conditions on the opening angles of the sail, while gravity gradient torques and solar eclipses are introduced to test the robustness of the concept. The concept targets equatorial orbits above approximately 5000km. Numerical results characterize the expected performance, leading to (for example) an increase of 2200km/yr for a small device at geostationary Earth orbit.

This paper focuses on electrostatic orbital control in formation flying by using switching strategies for charge distribution. Natural and artificial charging effects are taken into account, and limits in charging technology and in power requirements are also considered. The case of three spacecraft formation, which is intrinsically different and more difficult than the two spacecraft problem often analyzed in literature, has been investigated. A Lyapunov based global control strategy is presented and applied to perform formation acquisition and maintenance maneuvers, producing as output the required overall charge. Then, a selective and optimized charge distribution process among the satellites is discussed for avoiding charge breakdowns to surrounding plasma, for reducing the power requirements and the number of charge switches. The results of numerical simulations show the advantages and drawbacks of the selected control technique