Implementation and performance of formation flying using differential drag

Abstract Formation flying using only differential drag forces is possible in low Earth orbit. The effectiveness of this technique is addressed for a practical satellite mission. Formation control algorithms typically rely on knowledge of the mean relative position between spacecrafts but this information is not readily available from sensor data and must be approximated using instantaneous sensor data for position and velocity. Several different approaches of obtaining the mean relative position are presented and compared. Two independent controllers are required to achieve precise formation control, one for secular formation maneuvers and another for periodic motion. The performance of each controller is examined using different methods for obtaining estimates of mean relative positions.