Small Satellites Clusters — a New Type of Space Objects

A problem of functioning of a new type of space objects — small spacecraft clusters is considered in the paper. A cluster is a set of spacecraft with different purposes, not only performing a common task but also being controlled as a united space object and understood as a single whole by a customer. The control process of such an object involves modifications of a technological control cycle. The article offers a cluster model as a hierarchical structure and considers the approaches to its functioning algorithm based on a set of specialized system and individual operation modes of its elements, which allows one to develop a two-level structure of the technological cycle of a cluster control. The new tasks of the spacecraft cluster control are shown. The estimations of the ballistic service life of a spacecraft cluster and proposals for practical implementation of small spacecraft constellations of a cluster type are presented in this paper.