Analysis of Inter-Satellite Communication Protocols and their Effects on Satellite Formation Control

Satellite Formation Flying (SFF) enables the collective use of multiple spacecraft to perform the function of a single, large, virtual instrument. Formation Flying missions involve the tracking and maintenance of spacecraft in a desired geometric configuration, requiring to the distributed spacecraft to exert collaborative control of their mutual positions and orientations. The mutual nearness of spacecraft in controlled formation requires inter-satellite communication to exchange position and orientation information and to pass thruster actuation commands. In particular, attitude and orbital manoeuvre algorithms must ensure the minimum delay in performing the control of the formation geometry. As a consequence, one of the main challenges in such a mission is to design the appropriate communication protocol that accommodates a high communication reliability together with the minimum delay in a simplified hardware.