Abstract: To protect the security of spacecraft information and evade the detection and monitoring by surveillance satellites, this paper proposed a method for planning the covert maneuvering trajectory of spacecraft cluster based on the field angle constraint of surveillance satellites. This paper presented the mission scenario of spacecraft cluster covert maneuvering and the relevant equations for spacecraft cluster trajectory planning firstly, and then summarized the concept and specific steps of transforming the continuous optimal control problem into a nonlinear programming problem using the Radau pseudo-spectrum method. Based on this foundation, we developed a method for planning the covert maneuvering trajectory of a spacecraft cluster. This method took into account both fixed and non-fixed sensor installations, combined with the detection characteristics of optical sensors. The approach ensures that the spacecraft cluster evades detection by navigating around the surveillance area of the satellites. Finally, the validity of the proposed algorithm is verified through comprehensive numerical simulation. The minimum line of sight angle between the cluster members and the surveillance satellite is greater than the half-field angle of the surveillance satellite, and the constraints of safe distance and maneuverability are fulfilled. The spacecraft cluster successfully accomplishes the scheduled space mission and evades the detection of the surveillance satellite. Compared with the trajectory planning results of shape method, the advantages of the proposed algorithm in energy consumption are demonstrated. The covert maneuvering trajectory planning method for spacecraft cluster proposed in this paper can effectively prevent the detection and monitoring by surveillance satellites and enable spacecraft without covert capabilities to achieve the covert effect.

Key words: surveillance satellites, field of view constraint, spacecraft cluster, covert maneuvering, trajectory optimization