Analysis of the Effects of Electromagnetic Forces on the Relative Motion of a Charged Spacecraft Formation Flying

In recent years, studying Lorentz’s force has become a possible good means to control the spacecraft to reduce the fuel cost by modulating spacecraft electrostatic charge (magnetic and electric fields). The generation of Lorentz force is finite by the natural magnetic field and the relative velocity of the spacecraft. Therefore, the Lorentz force cannot fully occur from conventional propulsion technologies. Previous studies are concerned with studying Lorentz’s strength in the magnetic field only.

In this work, we developed a mathematical model for a new technique establishing a raise in the level of charging in the spacecraft surface that is moving in the Earth’s magnetic field and provided by modulating spacecraft’s electrostatic charge that induces acceleration via the Lorentz force. The acceleration will be used to find the relationship between capacitance and power required to minimize the consumption of control energy used in such cases or to replace the usual control thruster by Lorentz force.