The benefits of very low earth orbit for earth observation missions

NH Crisp, PCE Roberts, S Livadiotti, VTA Oiko… - Progress in Aerospace …, 2020 - Elsevier
Very low Earth orbits (VLEO), typically classified as orbits below approximately 450 km in
altitude, have the potential to provide significant benefits to spacecraft over those that …

Comprehensive survey and assessment of spacecraft relative motion dynamics models

J Sullivan, S Grimberg, S D'Amico - Journal of Guidance, Control, and …, 2017 - arc.aiaa.org
IN THE framework of spacecraft relative motion, current dynamics models are diverse and
often subject to a multitude of constraints and limitations on the intersatellite range of …

System modelling of very low Earth orbit satellites for Earth observation

NH Crisp, PCE Roberts, F Romano, KL Smith… - Acta astronautica, 2021 - Elsevier
The operation of satellites in very low Earth orbit (VLEO) has been linked to a variety of
benefits to both the spacecraft platform and mission design. Critically, for Earth observation …

A review of gas-surface interaction models for orbital aerodynamics applications

S Livadiotti, NH Crisp, PCE Roberts, SD Worrall… - Progress in Aerospace …, 2020 - Elsevier
Abstract Renewed interest in Very Low Earth Orbits (VLEO)-ie altitudes below 450 km-has
led to an increased demand for accurate environment characterisation and aerodynamic …

Safety control for spacecraft autonomous rendezvous and docking under motion constraints

H Dong, Q Hu, MR Akella - Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, 2017 - arc.aiaa.org
This paper addresses the translational control problem for the final phase of spacecraft
rendezvous and docking. For safety concerns, during the approach process, the pursuer …

Constellation phasing with differential drag on planet labs satellites

C Foster, J Mason, V Vittaldev, L Leung… - Journal of Spacecraft …, 2018 - arc.aiaa.org
A methodology is presented for the differential drag control of a large fleet of propulsionless
satellites deployed in the same orbit. The controller places satellites into a constellation with …

Assessment of constellation designs for earth observation: Application to the TROPICS mission

PG Buzzi, D Selva, N Hitomi, WJ Blackwell - Acta Astronautica, 2019 - Elsevier
The orbit and constellation design process for Earth observation missions is complex and it
involves trades between mission lifetime, instrument performance, coverage, cost, and …

[PDF][PDF] Very low earth orbit mission concepts for earth observation: Benefits and challenges

JV Llop, PC Roberts, Z Hao, LR Tomas… - Reinventing Space …, 2014 - researchgate.net
ABSTRACT Very Low Earth Orbits (VLEO) can be defined as the orbits with a mean altitude
below 450 km. Operating in these orbits can provide a number of benefits to Earth …

Model of perturbed satellite relative motion with time-varying differential drag

G Gaias, JS Ardaens, O Montenbruck - Celestial Mechanics and …, 2015 - Springer
This work revisits the modeling of the relative motion between satellites flying in near-
circular low-Earth-orbits. The motion is described through relative orbital elements and both …

Drag deorbit device: A new standard reentry actuator for CubeSats

D Guglielmo, S Omar, R Bevilacqua… - Journal of Spacecraft …, 2019 - arc.aiaa.org
The increasing number of CubeSats being launched has raised concerns about orbital
debris because most of these satellites have no means of active orbit control. Some …