Efficient Starshade Retargeting Architecture Using Chemical Propulsion

Abstract

NASA is studying a possible starshade flying in formation with the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope (Roman). The starshade would perform weeks-long translational retarget- ing maneuvers between target stars. A retargeting architecture is introduced that is based on chemical propulsion and does not require ground tracking or interactions with the telescope during the retargeting cruise. Feasibility is demonstrated through a verified covariance analysis of the starshade-telescope relative position over several weeks using realistic sensor and actuator assumptions. Performance is sufficient for Roman to reacquire the starshade after retargeting and the architecture is shown to also be applicable to other mission concepts such as the Habitable Exoplanet Observatory (HabEx).