Mission Analysis & Operational Concepts for on-orbit refueling

Mission Analysis & Operational Concepts

The team conducted a preliminary mission analysis for various orbital scenarios including:

Key Highlights:

Thrust requirements were evaluated across use cases such as orbit maintenance, collision avoidance, and end-of-life disposal.
A dedicated analysis of servicer missions involving refueling of target satellites provided insight into fuel demand, maneuver timelines, and mission logistics.
VLEO scenarios showed the benefits of elliptical orbits for extended lifetime and coverage, while also highlighting the challenges of atomic oxygen degradation and limited thrust for maintaining orbits.

Feasibility & Economic Viability

Several preliminary feasibility studies were carried out using engineering approximations and simulation tools.
A key concept is the formation of an economic partnership between multiple satellites using the same platform and a servicing satellite. In the case of constellations, this typically refers to satellites within the same orbital plane. For Sun-synchronous orbits (SSO), satellites must operate in close proximity, particularly with similar RAAN and altitude.
In Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO), up to four operational dives per year could be feasible under low solar activity conditions. However, transfers from a parking orbit in LEO to an operational elliptical VLEO require several days and cannot be completed within hours, limiting responsiveness.
The project also evaluated the economic viability of servicing missions, factoring in satellite mass, required control authority, and propulsion system capabilities.