Analyzing Dynamics of Cooperating Spacecraft

NASA Tech Briefs, Jun 2004 by Hughes, Stephen P, Folta, David C, Conway, Darrel J

A software library has been developed to enable high-fidelity computational simulation of the dynamics of multiple spacecraft distributed over a region of outer space and acting with a common purpose. all of the modeling capabilities afforded by this software are available independently in other, separate software systems, but have not previously been brought together in a single system. A user can choose among several dynamical models, many high-fidelity environment models, and several numerical-integration schemes. The user can select whether to use models that assume weak coupling between spacecraft, or strong coupling in the case of feedback control or tethering of spacecraft to each other. For weak coupling, spacecraft orbits are propagated independently, and are synchronized in time by controlling the step size of the integration. For strong coupling, the orbits are integrated simultaneously. Among the integration schemes that the user can choose are Runge-Kutta Verner, Prince-Dormand, Adams-Bashforth-Moulton, and Bulirsh-Stoer. Comparisons of performance are included for both the weak- and strong-coupling dynamical models for all of the numerical integrators. The library was designed for ease of integration with high-fidelity environment models already in use in the Flight Dynamics Analysis Branch, which is one of seven institutional support branches within the Mission Engineering and Systems Analysis Division at Goddard Space Flight Center.

This program was written by Stephen P. Hughes and David C. folia of Goddard Space Flight Center and Darrel J. Conway of Thinking Systems, Inc. For further information, access the Technical Support Package (TSP) free on-line at www.techbriefs.com/tsp under the Software category.

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