Publications Conference paper · Mega-constellations · 2021

On the automation, optimization, and in-orbit validation of intelligent satellite constellation operations

Gregory Stock, Juan A. Fraire, Holger Hermanns, Eduardo Cruz, Alastair Isaacs, and Zhana Imbrosh

AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellites (SmallSat), 2021

Abstract

Recent breakthroughs in technology have led to a thriving"new space"culture in low-Earth orbit (LEO) in which performance and cost considerations dominate over resilience and reliability as mission goals. These advances create a manifold of opportunities for new research and business models but come with a number of striking new challenges. In particular, the size and weight limitations of low-Earth orbit small satellites make their successful operation rest on a fine balance between solar power infeed and the power demands of the mission payload and supporting platform technologies, buffered by on-board battery storage. At the same time, these satellites are being rolled out as part of ever-larger constellations and mega-constellations. Altogether, this induces a number of challenging computational problems related to the recurring need to make decisions about which task each satellite is to effectuate next. Against this background, GomSpace and Saarland University have joined forces to develop highly sophisticated software-based automated solutions rooted in optimal algorithmic and self-improving learning techniques, all this validated in modern nanosatellite networked missions operating in orbit.

Cite

BibTeX

@inproceedings{stock2022automation,
  author    = {Stock, Gregory and Fraire, Juan A. and Hermanns, Holger and Cruz, Eduardo and Isaacs, Alastair and Imbrosh, Zhana},
  title     = {On the automation, optimization, and in-orbit validation of intelligent satellite constellation operations},
  booktitle = {AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellites (SmallSat)},
  year      = {2021},
  url       = {https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/smallsat/2021/all2021/168/}
}

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