Matool

Definition, evaluation, and optimization of station keeping strategies for geostationary satellites.

General Information

Mission analysis support

Matool analyzes the performance of your station keeping and collocation strategy in terms of the evolution and safety of the orbital elements during a simulated time period.

Matool adapts to each client's needs.

Features

Mission analysis support

  • Evaluation of inclination control strategy (N/S) and drift/eccentricity control strategy (E/W)
  • Strategy performance in terms of safety and velocity (∆V) required
  • Performance of these strategies is evaluated through simulation of the expected orbit determination errors and thruster behavior (thrust-to-thrust, cross-coupling, etc.)
  • Planning future maneuvers needed by the satellite
  • Relative visibility between satellites
  • Analysis and feasibility of collocation strategies for several satellites in the same orbital slot
  • Verification of the restrictions associated with the control window
  • Verification of safety constraints (minimum inter-satellite distance and separation angles)
     

Matool includes several functions to evaluate a specific strategy:

  • Automatic Monte Carlo analysis based on the proposed modeling errors
  • Automatic collocation parameters based on the characteristics of the cluster
  • Generic maneuver calibration avoiding dependencies on a particular platform
  • Swapping direction between north and south
  • Independent station keeping cycle for EW and NS maneuvers
  • Maneuver splitting for north/south thrust
  • Free inclination drift management (no inclination control strategy)
  • Chemical vs ionic propulsion analysis
  • Mass evolution calculation
  • Life cycle estimate

Source URL: http://www.gmv.com/products/space/matool