(A) study of cognitive intelligence-based small satellite constellations for cislunar space

Abstract

The progressive development of the Newspace era has aligned several opportunities as well as challenges to be addressed with the precise use of technologies and the methods governing them. This thesis is one such initiative towards the sustainable evolution and development of the Cislunar space utilizing the small satellite constellations as the primary systems of operations. Over the years, the small satellites (<500-kilogram mass) have been highly attractive to the global space community due to their substantial capabilities to deliver applications not only solving Earth-based problems but also taking a major leap towards providing essential data on Moon and beyond. These satellites in a constellation are much more robust and contribute with extensive productivity and performance. This simultaneously uplifts overall capabilities to deliver data/information multiple fold compared to how they are utilized individually. This research will take initiatives towards further enhancement of the utility of small satellites for specific and definitive applications within the scope of the Cislunar space. The method demonstrated provides a detailed framework to use the autonomy with Artificial Intelligence to form a synergy of orbits with the ground operations. Several layers of the autonomous operations in various dimensions of the system development are demonstrated, analyzed, and documented specific to small satellite constellations.