Title: Unique role of small satellites in empowering spacecraft formation flying missions

Authors: Peter M.B. Waswa

Addresses: The Polytechnic School, Arizona State University, 6075 S. Innovation Way West, Mesa, AZ 85212, USA

Abstract: Spacecraft formation flying avails unprecedented means of conducting space missions compared to a single conventional large monolithic platform. Chiefly, formation flying enables sparse and synthesised large instrument apertures to be realised in space. Such large apertures immensely enhance the capabilities of missions conducting space astronomy, earth observation, surveillance, etc. Small satellites possess unique attributes such as modularity, small size and relatively lower costs. Consequently, this paper reviews spacecraft formation flying missions that are conducted using small satellites. In this effort, we seek to establish if small satellites play a unique role in fostering spacecraft formation flying. To that end, we endeavour to qualitatively attest the posited hypothesis that 'small satellites uniquely empower spacecraft formation flying missions'. Apart from analysing the mission architecture and system configuration, we also scrutinise systems engineering practices uniquely motivated by small spacecraft formulation requirements. The findings of this review demonstrate that small satellites possess unique characteristics that exclusively enable them to empower spacecraft formation flying missions. Moreover, we observe that the majority of the reviewed missions employ cubesats and the most common formation flying mission objective is technology demonstration.

Keywords: small spacecraft; spacecraft formation flying; cubesats.

DOI: 10.1504/IJASSE.2021.114152

International Journal of Aerospace System Science and Engineering, 2021 Vol.1 No.1, pp.55 - 67

Received: 08 May 2019
Accepted: 17 Feb 2020
Published online: 09 Apr 2021 *