# A Study of Cislunar-Based Small Satellite Constellations with Sustainable Autonomy
## 6 Discussions
The Circular Restricted 3-Body Problem (CR3 BP) is a common background of the proposed methodology and designed dynamics. The systematic approach was built to sustain the operations towards autonomous operations in the near future that are progressive and strong enough to sustain the competence in sustainability. These factors were closely observed and researched with relevant references to build the capacity over time and get resourceful benefits from the Cislunar space effectively and continuously. For this reason, the dynamics have extensively covered the hybrid constellation design, space debris, formation among the satellites, and majorly the impact of the space environment in the form of Solar Radiation Pressure, \(J_{2}\) perturbations, and atmospheric drag, respectively. Also, the role of maximum coverage in the balance of defined autonomy is such an important aspect that the coverage is on full scale and has to be maintained in any given condition and scenario without any disruption of the operations of the aligned small satellite constellation. Hence, the chapter was separately given as Section 4.5. The other main reason is also that maintaining the maximum coverage will also allow the constellation to have a minimum number of satellites in utility of the creative methods in line with autonomy. Hence, a specific section is allocated to elaborate and highlight this objective, with developed autonomy having a bigger role to play with full-scale coverage to be deployed and sustained for the long term. The visual simulations of the propagated constellation in Section 5 replicate the dynamics, and sufficient parameters are utilized to develop these algorithms to make the best possible situations and scenarios with the real-time environment simulated for the Earth and the Moon as an integral part of the Cislunar space. The significance of propagating the constellation in the respective environments of the Earth and the Moon gives an impactful observation of how the small satellites with their given configurations could react and sustain it while performing their operations daily. These were trialed in several ways, and parameters could be utilized efficiently to get the best balance of coverage, optimal resources, and operations to accomplish the mission objectives aptly. The major need for the analysis was unleashed once the propagation scenarios were fully understood and the proper benefits were observed. As mentioned earlier, the analysis is divided into three different portions: 1. Parametric analysis, 2. Monte Carlo simulations for collisions, and 3. SRP variations under different conditions of the operations. Small satellite constellations have a distinct but situational emphasis on their behavior under varied conditions. This can be clearly seen in the results, which determine the operational stability that a constellation may have under different scenarios and the environment they are subjected to. For Earth, starting from the parametric analysis, it is important to observe the variations closely as they perform their daily propagations as required by their mission objectives. Figure 6 brings about the parameters that define and orient the operations in the given orbits of a constellation. Figure 6 gives the alignment observation from satellite to satellite with respect to the Along, Cross, and Radial separations defining the actual position of each satellite in their respective orbits. Just thinking of the complexity of an entire constellation, things go way too much to handle with all these parameters intact and track each satellite independently. Hence, autonomy comes into the picture right away and takes control in the orbit, measuring the distances and maintaining a posed position and velocity as required for the proper functioning of a constellation overall. In a similar line of action, Figure 6 gives a full-scale tracking with the Along Arc, In-track, and Range variations that defined the small satellite's nearest approximate location in the constellation.