Semi-analytical Theory THEONA & Constellation Motion Analysis

Аuthors

Golikov A. R.

Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics (Russian Academy of Sciences), 4, Miusskaya sq., Moscow, 125047, Russia

e-mail: golikov@kiam1.rssi.ru

Abstract

At present, the projects with constellations (and formation flying) attract great interest for various reasons. Firstly, they can represent various configurations. And these architectures are extremely interesting from the point of view of space applications. Their structural nature can be used to create a flexible and efficient range of measurements, to synthesize virtual instrument. Here is the possibility of receiving of wide variety: methods (options) for given problems & data.
The semi-analytical theory named THEONA provides the satellite motion prediction with high rapidity and good accuracy. For the problem examined here, an efficiency of the theory increases even more: it has developed additional methods with united structures of integrals and special functions of THEONA. Accordingly, it leads to higher speed computations, relative error decreases to 10-12. So, new version of THEONA permits to provide almost all necessary operative and research calculations for the tasks with constellations and formation flying.
I propose several examples of accuracy estimations of orbit propagation based on THEONA. It is considered absolute and relative motion of constellations for different classes of orbits. This analysis shows an efficient use of THEONA for the study of relative motion evolution of constellations.

Keywords:

Satellite constellations, formation flying, orbit prediction, semi-analytical satellite theory, perturbations, special functions

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