An Aerodynamically Controlled Cross-track Tethered CubeSat System for Remote Sensing Applications

In this study, a distributed space system consisting of two 6u CubeSats connected by a tether is considered. This architecture is dimensioned for remote sensing applications. By sampling a signal from different orbital positions and combining the collected data, it is possible to equate the performance of a large monolithic antenna. The solution proposed here is to use a tether in order to mechanically connect the satellites in a cross track flight-configuration by exploiting the rarefied atmosphere of low Earth orbit to generate a force that stabilizes and controls the system. By controlling the attitude of the satellites, the tether is constantly kept in tension and aligned in the cross-track direction. A system with this architecture maximizes mission performance by maintaining always a maximum cross-track extension and thus a constant measurement resolution.