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Preliminary Results of NASA's First Autonomous Formation Flying Experiment: Earth Observing-1 (EO-1)NASA's first autonomous formation flying mission is completing a primary goal of demonstrating an advanced technology called enhanced formation flying. To enable this technology, the Guidance, Navigation, and Control center at the Goddard Space Flight Center has implemented an autonomous universal three-axis formation flying algorithm in executive flight code onboard the New Millennium Program's (NMP) Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) spacecraft. This paper describes the mathematical background of the autonomous formation flying algorithm and the onboard design and presents the preliminary validation results of this unique system. Results from functionality assessment and autonomous maneuver control are presented as comparisons between the onboard EO-1 operational autonomous control system called AutoCon(tm), its ground-based predecessor, and a stand-alone algorithm.
Document ID
20010084989
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Folta, David
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Hawkins, Albin
(AI Solutions, Inc. Lanham, MD United States)
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
June 1, 2001
Publication Information
Publication: 2001 Flight Mechanics Symposium
Subject Category
Astrodynamics
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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