Pleiades Fractionated Space System Architecture and the Future of National Security Space

LoBosco, David; Golding, Richard; Cameron, Glen E.; Wong, Theodore M.

doi:10.2514/6.2008-7687

Cited by 14 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…4. An architecture can contain up to three payloads, up to two 24/7 communication units, up to two highbandwidth downlinks, a solid-state recorder, and a mission data processor.…”

Section: Fractionatable Components Currently Modeled In Gt-fastmentioning

confidence: 99%

GT-FAST: A Point Design Tool for Rapid Fractionated Spacecraft Sizing and Synthesis

Lafleur

Saleh

2009

AIAA SPACE 2009 Conference &Amp; Exposition

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In July 2007, DARPA issued a Broad Agency Announcement for the development of System F6, a flight demonstration of an architecture in which the functionality of a traditional monolithic satellite is fulfilled with a fractionated cluster of free-flying, wirelessly interconnected modules. Given the large number of possible architectural options, two challenges facing systems analysis of F6 are (1) the ability to enumerate the many potential candidate fractionated architectures and (2) the ability to analyze and quantify the cost and benefits of each architecture. One element necessary in enabling a probabilistic, valuecentric analysis of such fractionated architectures is a systematic method for sizing and costing the many candidate architectures that arise. The Georgia Tech F6 Architecture Synthesis Tool (GT-FAST) is a point design tool designed to fulfill this need by allowing rapid, automated sizing and synthesis of candidate F6 architectures. This paper presents the internal mechanics and some illustrative applications of GT-FAST. Discussed are the manner in which GT-FAST fractionated designs are specified, including discrete and continuous-variable inputs, as well as the methods, models, and assumptions used in estimating elements of mass, power, and cost. Finally, the paper concludes with sample outputs from GT-FAST for a notional fractionated architecture, an example of GT-FAST's trade study capability, and a partial validation of GT-FAST against the Jason-2 and TIMED satellites. The ease with which GT-FAST can be adapted to new fractionated spacecraft applications is highlighted, and avenues for potential future expansion of GT-FAST are discussed. NomenclatureC add/replace = average cost of adding or replacing component P = total power requirement C i,existing = cost of adding component via an existing module t = time on-orbit C i,separate = cost of adding component via a dedicated module V = average orbital velocity f 100 = smoothing function near 100 W power boundary β = average ballistic coefficient f 500 = smoothing function near 500 W power boundary ∆V = velocity change requirement n = number of fractionatable components in architecture ρ = average atmospheric density

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“…4. An architecture can contain up to three payloads, up to two 24/7 communication units, up to two highbandwidth downlinks, a solid-state recorder, and a mission data processor.…”

Section: Fractionatable Components Currently Modeled In Gt-fastmentioning

confidence: 99%

GT-FAST: A Point Design Tool for Rapid Fractionated Spacecraft Sizing and Synthesis

Lafleur

Saleh

2009

AIAA SPACE 2009 Conference &Amp; Exposition

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“…In phase I of the DARPA System F6 program, LoBosco et al proposed the Pleiades fractionated space system architecture, which fractionates resources and payloads, and consists of five 225-kg modules and two 75-kg modules [6]. This architecture is intended to support a low Earth orbit (LEO) Earth science mission, which uses three different electro-optical imagers to enhance science value by coregistration of images.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional, physical, and organizational architectures of a fractionated space infrastructure for long-term earth observation missions

Jing

Guo

Gill

2014

IEEE Aerosp. Electron. Syst. Mag.

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“…and all the functionalities are shared through wireless connections. Examples for potential application of the cluster flight can be identified in the missions PLEIADES [18] and SAMSON [16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiple spacecraft configuration designs for coordinated flight missions

Fumenti

Theil

2018

CEAS Space J

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Coordinated flight allows the replacement of a single monolithic spacecraft with multiple smaller ones, based on the principle of distributed systems. According to the mission objectives and in order to ensure a safe relative motion, constraints on the relative distances need to be satisfied. Initially, differential perturbations are limited by proper orbit design. Then, the induced differential drifts can be properly handled through corrective maneuvers. In this work several designs are surveyed, defining the initial configuration of a group of spacecraft while counteracting the differential perturbations. For each of the investigated designs, focus is placed upon the number of deployable spacecraft and on the possibility to ensure safe relative motion through station keeping of the initial configuration, with particular attention to the required ∆V budget and the constraints violations.

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Pleiades Fractionated Space System Architecture and the Future of National Security Space

Cited by 14 publications

References 3 publications

GT-FAST: A Point Design Tool for Rapid Fractionated Spacecraft Sizing and Synthesis

GT-FAST: A Point Design Tool for Rapid Fractionated Spacecraft Sizing and Synthesis

Functional, physical, and organizational architectures of a fractionated space infrastructure for long-term earth observation missions

Multiple spacecraft configuration designs for coordinated flight missions

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