Review of formation flying and constellation missions using nanosatellites

A review of formation flying (FF) and constellation missions using nanosatellites from around the world is presented. The categorization of the 39 multisatellite missions, based on their current mission status, leading organizations, and their funding sources, is described. The primary funding sources for multisatellite missions are NASA and NASA centers, such as the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the US Department of Defense (DoD), non-US agencies such as the European Space Agency (ESA), Canadian Space Agency (CSA), Chinese Academy of Sciences, and private companies. The aim of such Earth science missions is to develop a scientific understanding of the Earth system and its response to natural and human-induced changes to enable improved prediction of climate, weather, and natural hazards for present and future generations.