Modeling and Analyzing Inter-Satellite Relative Motion

Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA

Snapshot of a 10-satellite swarm simulation using the SODA tool. (Image: NASA)

From a mission operations perspective, swarms pose a planning challenge due to the limited scalability of ground operations. The capabilities needed to support swarm missions go beyond operator-specified geometry, alignment, or separation, but also crosslink communication with maintaining position in the formation. To address scalable control of orbital dynamics, NASA Ames Research Center has patented Swarm Orbital Dynamics Advisor (SODA) — a solution that accepts high-level configuration commands and provides the orbital maneuvers needed to achieve the desired type of swarm relative motion.

Rather than conventional path planning, SODA uses artificial potential functions to define boundaries and keep-out regions. SODA enables high-level user inputs in a single planning cycle. From one high level command, SODA determines all of the required individual satellite maneuvers over time, relieving ground personnel of the tasks of designing and commanding the placement of the swarm members.

SODA provides the orbital maneuvers required to achieve a desired type of relative swarm motion. The purpose of SODA is two-fold. First, it encompasses the algorithms and orbital dynamics model to enable the desired relative motion of the swarm satellites. Second, SODA is compatible with a variety of visualization tools. The purpose of SODA’s visualization element is to illustrate this concept clearly with a variety of graphics and animations. After computing the optimal orbital maneuvers to modify the swarm, these results are simulated to demonstrate successful swarm control.

Besides swarm missions, other key applications of this technology include Interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) monitoring; ground-based laser communications to chief satellites; rapid stereographic imaging; and other sparse antenna array applications.

NASA is actively seeking licensees to commercialize this technology. Please contact NASA’s Licensing Concierge at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call at 202-358-7432 to initiate licensing discussions. For more information, visit here .