Abstract:
Future astronomical, surveillance and communications concepts are expected to
depend heavily upon distributed systems – many satellites flying in formation to
form synthesized detector arrays many times the size of each individual
spacecraft. Various concepts for these systems are already under development at
establishments around the globe. The MUSTANG project is a UK programme funded by
the British National Space Centre (BNSC) to demonstrate distributed systems
using two nanospacecraft in a low Earth orbit. This will include the
demonstration of a variety of formation flying techniques as well as
demonstrating various enabling technologies that will facilitate such
distributed systems. The use of many small spacecraft in distributed systems
greatly increases the potential for the production of large amounts of space
debris. Passive end-of-life de-orbit technologies will also be demonstrated to
address this proble
