METHOD TO CONTROL RELATIVE ALTITUDE(S) OF SPACECRAFT IN UNIT FLIGHT Russian patent published in 2011 - IPC G01S3/28 

FIELD: physics.

SUBSTANCE: control device D for spacecraft in unit flight comprises i) complex of, at least, three transceiver antennas (A1-A3) mounted on, at least, three sides of spacecraft different directions to receive/transmit RF-signals, ii) first measuring means (Ml) to define power of signals received by each of antennas (A1-A3), and outputting combinations of powers each correlated with one of the other spacecraft of the flight unit, iii) memory units (BD) to store sets of cartographic data, each describing normalised powers of signals received by each antenna (A1-A3) depending upon selected directions of transmission, and iv) processing units (MT) to compare each combination of powers generated by first measuring units (M1) with those of stored cartographic data to determine every direction of signal transmission from other spacecraft of flight unit relative to system o coordinates referenced to their spacecraft.

EFFECT: proper positioning of spacecraft flight unit.

14 cl, 28 dwg