Influence of antenna configuration and relative rotations on intersatellite distance precision of two satellites flying in formation

Formation flying consists of replacing a complex and expensive conventional satellite, by a set of smaller satellites, able of carrying out the same functions with better performance and at a lower cost. Therefore, satellites in formation must precisely control their positions and orientations relative to each other in the group, as if they were a single large satellite. This need for precision rises especially when these satellites are operating in close formation. The location and the configuration of the antennas is one crucial among other factors influencing the precision of the relative position. This paper investigates the influence of the configuration of the antennas and the relative attitude on the precision of the relative position between two satellites flying in formation. The first satellite holds three transmitting antennas and the second satellite holds three receiving antennas; simulations results that changing the locations of these latter does have a minim impact on the precision of the relative position for a determined close intersatellite distance.