The article is devoted to research in the area of the rocket and space industry, which is actively developing in the present days, such as the creation and application of promising small satellites of remote sensing of the Earth and modern orbital groups based on them. In this case, the functioning of small satellites is carried out as part of so-called clusters.
The actual question is the rational and effective information interaction of small spacecraft within the cluster in the performance of target tasks. In this regard, the article considers the questions of planning of system of information interaction of the cluster of perspective small satellites of remote sensing. An original model for planning the work of the information interaction system for a cluster of perspective small satellites of remote sensing of the Earth has been developed, which makes it possible to find plans that increase the cluster's productivity, taking into account its structural dynamics and predicted external disturbances. Based on the analysis of the obtained plans, a model (technique) of the structural-parametric synthesis of the information interaction system of a cluster of small satellites was developed. The proposed approach to the formation of modes of functioning perspective of small satellites, based on the choice of rational technology operations information interaction with the balance of energy expenditure in small satellites. The robustness of the information interaction system of the cluster of perspective small satellites of remote sensing of the Earth is estimated. The estimation consists in the construction and approximation of sets of domains in the space defined by the decision maker of the operation indicators of the cluster's information interaction system for the case of interval defined disturbing influences. This reduces the time for decision-making on the rational allocation of resources in the cluster in terms of disturbing effects. Visual methods for presenting the results of studies of the robustness of the information interaction system, using which it is possible to choose the most preferred plans for the operation of a cluster of small satellites of remote sensing of the Earth, are proposed.