PROBA-3 formation flying guidance navigation and control

Аuthors

Tarabini Castellani L. ^1*, Llorente J. S.^2**, Sjoberg F. ^3***, Jacobsson B. ^3****, Teston F. ^4*****, Burger F. ^4******, Cropp A. ^4*******

1. GMV Aerospace and Defence, Madrid, Spain
2. SENER Ingeniería y Sistemas, Madrid, Spain
3. Swedish Space Corporation, Solna, Sweden
4. ESA, Noordwijk (The Netherlands)

*e-mail: ltarabini@gmv.es
**e-mail: salvador.llorente@sener.es
***e-mail: fredrik.sjoberg@ssc.se
****e-mail: bjorn.jakobsson@ssc.se
*****e-mail: frederic.teston@esa.int
******e-mail: franz.burger@esa.int
*******e-mail: alexander.cropp@esa.int

Abstract

PROBA-3 is an ESA technology demonstration mission devoted to the validation of the novel technologies required by future Formation Flying (FF) missions. The PROBA-3 mission and in particular its Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) architecture are being defined within the currently running Bridging Step after phase A. The Bridging Step includes evaluation and consolidation of the results of the two previous phase A studies before the start of the project phase B foreseen for the end of 2008.
This paper describes PROBA-3 GNC including requirements, GNC architecture and design, and to a lesser extent, the calibration process. A key feature of the GNC is a design that allows the verification of different types of control architectures (functions allocations), facilitating the change in the level of centralisation of the control. The paper also includes the definition and description of the different GNC modes, the sensors and actuators to be used at SC and at FF level, and the way they are going to be used. Emphasis is put on the flexibility of the system for maximisation of technology demonstration.

Keywords:

Proba-3; Formation Flying; GNC

Download