This paper comprehensively reviews the state-of-the-art development in formation control of
small satellites. Satellite formation flying, distributed satellite systems, and fractionated …

Abstract Space debris is growing dramatically with the rapid pace of human exploration of
space, which seriously threatens the safety of artificial spacecraft in orbit. Therefore, the …

An elegant solution is proposed to an old problem of how to remove expired or
malfunctioning satellites from the geosynchronous belt. Previous “space-tug” concepts …

Spacecraft formation flying using Coulomb forces is a relatively new technology for
spacecraft control and may have application for a wide variety of mission objectives …

The remote charging of a passive object using an electron beam enables touchless re-
orbiting of large space debris from geosynchronous orbit (GEO) using electrostatic forces …

The use of electrostatic (Coulomb) actuation for formation flying is attractive because non-
renewable fuel reserves are not depleted and plume impingement issues are avoided. Prior …

For close-proximity flying on the order of 10–100 m, Coulomb thrusting presents a promising
alternative to other methods of propulsion. This clean and fuel-efficient propulsion method is …

This survey deals with the problem of the group motion of spacecraft, which is rapidly
developing and relevant for many applications, in terms of developing the onboard control …

A range of upcoming missions propose to rendezvous in high Earth orbits, including the
geostationary orbit region. This region is known to periodically experience high levels of …

Existing active debris removal methods that require physical contact with the target have
applicability limitations depending on the maximum angular momentum that can be …