CubeSat Formations for Monitoring Hurricanes

Abstract

In this paper, we consider the problem of orbit-raising of all-electric satellites deployed in the geosynchronous equatorial orbit (GEO). We present an optimization framework that incorporates a novel dynamic model of a thrusting spacecraft, eclipse constraints including rotation of the shadow geometry and J2 perturbation. An automated mission scenario analysis tool is built utilizing the developed framework that generates sub-optimal trajectories in a rapid and robust manner, without the need of user-inputed initial guess, for each instance of the non-linear trajectory optimization problem. The tool is used to perform a mission scenario analysis for orbit-raising of all-electric telecommunication satellite that allows for stacking of such satellites within the launch vehicle.