Relative Control of a Virtual Telescope Using Global Positioning System and Optical Metrology

摘要

The GNC algorithms presented and validated here have been able to acquire the two-element telescope formation of the PROBA-3 mission from an a priori control error of 8 m. The control error becomes subcentimeter (0.6-cm RMS) for more than 90% of its HEO. This error level relies on the use of GPS observations for coarse navigation and of an optical system for fine navigation. The navigation error of the latter is ～0.3 cm RMS.