Station-keeping of large flexible hoop-column antenna at geosynchronous orbit

The large hoop-column antenna is vital for high-gain communication and enhanced observational performance in space missions. However, the vibrations caused by the flexibility of the center column affect the thrust direction, making traditional station-keeping strategies based on the rigid body model ineffective. Moreover, the coupling between north-south and east-west station-keeping maneuvers, induced by flexible structural vibrations, further complicates orbital control. To address these issues, this study develops an orbit dynamics model of the large hoop-column antenna that accurately captures the coupling between structural deformation and orbital motion, providing a foundation for the design of station-keeping strategies. To compensate for thrust loss caused by flexible vibrations, a thrust compensation mechanism is introduced to reduce performance degradation. For east-west station-keeping, a dual-platform switching strategy is proposed to enhance fuel efficiency compared with conventional simultaneous pulsing. In addition, a drift dual-circle design is established to correct longitude deviations induced by north-south maneuvers and ensure long-term orbital stability. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed integrated strategy achieves precise and autonomous station-keeping for spacecraft with flexible structures, confirming its effectiveness in mitigating vibration-induced coupling effects and improving control accuracy and fuel economy over traditional rigid-body approaches.