Bridging Gaps in Distributed Space Systems: A Digital Twin Solution

This paper presents a conceptual design for an advanced simulator leveraging digital twins, focusing on the subsystems of small satellites and their interdependencies. Existing simulators face challenges due to computational intensity, lack of flexibility, and inability to adapt to dynamic satellite missions. The proposed digital twin-based simulator offers a lightweight, computationally efficient alternative, enabling detailed analysis of mission requirements, iterative design processes, and comprehensive operational assessments. A review of existing Distributed Space Systems (DSS) applications highlights ongoing efforts and completed missions involving small satellites, identifying significant gaps in imaging and surface analysis. These gaps arise from increased complexity in coordination, data synchronization issues, and higher maintenance costs, which currently outweigh the advantages of DSS. To address these gaps, the study proposes developing adaptable digital twins for all satellite subsystems, accurately modeling interdependencies and interactions to establish a robust DSS framework.