stationkeeping

Noun

Meaning

(nautical) The maintenance of a ship's position relative to others in a fleet or convoy.

(aviation) The flying of aircraft in formation.

(by extension) The maintenance of a satellite in geosynchronous orbit over a desired spot.

Examples

As a passive "target" vehicle, the Zvezda maintained a stationkeeping orbit as the Zarya-Unity vehicle performed the rendezvous and docking via ground control and the Russian automated rendezvous and docking system. Source: Internet

Besides the usual stationkeeping tasks, the BPT-4000 is also providing orbit raising capability to the spacecraft. Source: Internet

Soviet bloc satellites have used electric propulsion for decades, and newer Western geo-orbiting spacecraft are starting to use them for north-south stationkeeping and orbit raising. Source: Internet

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