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