Spacecraft Formation Flying

Preface

This book constitutes the second volume in the Elsevier Astrodynamics Book Series, and is devoted to spacecraft formation flying. As opposed to Volume I in the series, titled Modern Astrodynamics, the current volume is a textbook rather than an edited volume.

Spacecraft formation flying is a vast subject, which can be studied from many different viewpoints. This book develops the theory from an astrodynamical viewpoint, emphasizing modeling, control and navigation of formation flying satellites on Earth orbits–mostly low Earth orbit (LEO) missions. Spacecraft formation flying in deep-space and on libration-point orbits is not covered in the current text; this subject deserves a stand-alone book.

We have attempted to create a coherent exposition ...