Development of spacecraft formation flying system for snipe mission using four nanosats

The Small-scale magNetosphere and Ionosphere Plasma Experiment (SNIPE) mission utilizes four nanosats in formation flying to study the near-Earth environment. The main objective of this mission is to collect data on the temporal and spatial variation in physical phenomena occurring in the geomagnetic field. The shape and size of the formation flying consisting of four nanosats should be continuously changed to meet the scientific objectives. Two types of formation flying are designed, and constraints in orbit control are analyzed. There are four major constraints on orbit controls. Orbit control scenarios and methods for changing shape and size are developed to overcome the constraints. Four types of orbit control are derived to operate the formation flying. The design is validated through software simulations that reflect the intended environments. Four nanosats perform two types of formation flying within a budget of 50 m/s of ΔV.