Design of Inter-satellite Ranging and Clock Synchronization of Formation Satellites

Inter-satellite communication, ranging and clock synchronization (CRS) is a key technology for formation satellites to fly in formation and conduct distributed detection. The CRS system is based on the principle of dual one way ranging (DOWR) measurement, its hardware design and software design are described. In hardware design, frequency division multiplexing technology (FDM) is adopted to realize the communication among the formation satellites. Closed-loop clock discipline technology is conducted to realize clock synchronization among formation satellites. The CRS design is verified by series ground tests including wired ranging test on the desk, wireless ranging test in a microwave anechoic chamber, and wireless ranging test with a vehicle. The test data reveals the feasibility and effectiveness of the CRS design in this paper.