Multi-Vehicle Guidance for Formation Flight on Libration Point Orbits

Yuri Shimane; Purnanand Elango; Avishai Weiss

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arXiv · 2509.14730

Multi-Vehicle Guidance for Formation Flight on Libration Point Orbits

Yuri Shimane·Purnanand Elango·Avishai Weiss

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Abstract

The multiple spacecraft guidance problem for proximity flight in libration point orbit is considered. A nonlinear optimal control problem with continuous-time path constraints enforcing minimum separation between each spacecraft is formulated. The path constraints are enforced via an isoperimetric reformulation, and the problem is solved via a sequential convex programming. The proposed approach does not necessitate specific dynamic system structures to provide continuous-time guarantees for minimum separation within a fuel-optimal solution. The optimal control problem is deployed within a model predictive control scheme and demonstrated in the ephemeris model dynamics.

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Yuri Shimane, Purnanand Elango, Avishai Weiss. 2025-09-18. Multi-Vehicle Guidance for Formation Flight on Libration Point Orbits. https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.14730

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