Optimal impulsive maneuvers for formation reconfiguration using relative orbit elements

A new set of relative orbit elements (ROEs) is used to derive a new analytical optimal formation control strategy. The control of in-plane and out-of-plane relative motions can be completely decoupled using the ROEs-based impulsive feedback control law. The effects of the earth gravity harmonics perturbation (mainly J2) on the relative orbit are derived. Subsequently a formation optimal control approach are proposed. The analyses are conducted under two conditions, which means reconfiguration would be performed between the same configurations or between the different ones. Compared with optimal Lambert double impulsive method using improved particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm, the new multi-impulse reconfiguration strategy in this paper is validated by simulations. Results are presented through several typical examples.