Abstract: Electro-Magnetic Formation Flight (EMFF) is a technique for providing propellant-less station-keeping between multiple satellites. It provides actuation of relative degrees of freedom between satellites using electro-magnetic forces and torques in conjunction with reaction wheels. EMFF replaces consumables and contaminants associated with thrusters and supports high delta-V close-proximity maneuvers associated with assembly, servicing, inspection, and sparse aperture synthesis. To generate significant torques and forces at a distance, high temperature superconductors (HTS) were analyzed for different mission concepts (e.g., TPF-I, JWST) and used in laboratory testbeds. Electric propulsion levels of thrust (~10 mN) can be generated between two 2-meter diameter HTS coils at a separation of 43 meters. Given the inductive coupling between satellites, an ISS testbed was able to demonstrate wireless power transfer in addition to formation flight. Non-Keplerian multi-satellite orbit configurations, large membrane structure deployment, magnetic docking, and other uses are identified.
Bio: David W. Miller is the former Director of the Space Systems Laboratory and the Jerome C. Hunsaker Professor (Post Tenure) in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at M.I.T. Prof. Miller has played an engineering role in the development of space-based apertures. He has built and operated a dozen space flight experiments spanning Shuttle, Mir, ISS, and free flyers. He was a member of the JWST Product Integrity Team and the Vice Chair and S&T Chair of the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board. He served two and a half years as NASA’s Chief Technologist at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC and three years as Vice President and first Chief Technology Officer at the Aerospace Corporation. He is currently the Chief Technologist for the Astronomy and Fundamental Physics Directorate at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, an AIAA Fellow and member of the National Academy of Engineering.
Host: Abhishek Cauligi