The Application of RCS Characteristic Analysis in Close Range Formation Flight

Objects in close range formation flight need to be identified before being tracked by radar and other non-cooperation tracking equipments. As the distance between the concomitant satellite and the main satellite is very close in formation flight, and the schedule entering into the sight of observation station is uncertain, the two objects cannot be distinguished by use of orbit parameters and tracking schedules of observation station. After analyzing the physical and moving characteristics of them, we propose an identification method by use of mean RCS and attitude stability determination. The results show that the method is effective for formation flight object identification at close range.