Autonomous formation flight control method for satellites

The invention discloses an autonomous formation flight control method for satellites. Formation flight control is carried out through relative orbit mean elements, and due to the fact that a long-term trend of relative movement between the satellites is accurately reflected through the relative orbit mean elements, long-term changes of the relative movement can be well controlled with the method. The autonomous formation flight control method is characterized in that a mean semi-major axis difference control strategy in an orbital plane is designed, the mode that control targets are set in a partitioned mode is adopted, and it is guaranteed that the drift speeds within control zones are low; when outside the control zones, the control targets can return to the control zones at high speeds. According to the autonomous formation flight control method, due to the mode that small-pulse air injecting is used for orbit control multiple times, and a momentum wheel is used for posture control, influences of posture air injection control on orbits are reduced, and the orbit control execution accuracy is improved.