Reconfiguring Flower Constellations Using Continuous Firing

Abstract

Flower constellation have been proposed as a new facility to manage multiple satellite deployment. The number of possible configurations is very wide, according to specific requirements, and has been presented in previous papers. The present paper addresses the concept of the reconfiguration of a satellite set from a flower constellation said A to a flower constellation said B. No initial assumptions are taken for the satellite number in the two configurations: case of a staged deployment (number increase), a satellite failure (number decrease), special needs due to changes in market demands (no changes in number). All cases are discussed in order to find an opportunity to manage important on-orbit decisions, for planning an "economic risks free" deployment or, differently, to design a mission with several reconfigurations over the time of life.