Proximity motion control of satellite cluster using impulsive thrust

In this paper, the problem on control of satellite proximity motion under perturbations is investigated. A closed-form optimal feedback controller based on a pseudospectral method is proposed. Receding horizon concept is employed to control the satellites for long-term autonomous operations. The results show that the proposed control system performs well in keeping the satellite motion in a predefined formation under a realistic space perturbation environment. The orbit configuration has been chosen for minimal propulsion requirement, and fuel expenditure has been optimized along the control horizon. Furthermore, the algorithm requires less computational burden than general optimization methods, and hence it is suitable for practical on-line implementation.