AAS 97-612
A FRAMEWORK FOR THE COMPARISON OF STRUCTURALLY CONNECTED AND SEPARATED SPACECRAFT INTERFEROMETERS
D.M. Surka and E.F. Crawley - Princeton Satellite Systems, Inc.
Abstract
Space-based interferometers are essential to NASA's Origins Program. This paper establishes a framework for the comparison of structurally connected and multiple spacecraft interferometers. Parameters such as orbit, orientation, truss material, propellant, and onboard disturbances are explicitly considered. The block diagram representation allows quick identification of areas to be modeled and shows the interactions between the trade space parameters and performance metrics. Higher fidelity comparisons can easily be made by substitution of different plant and disturbance models. Application of this framework to a reference case of trade space parameters reveals that multiple spacecraft interferometers are optimal for baselines greater thjjkan 400 meters.