Relative Trajectory Design for Spacecraft using Virtual Potential Field

7 Global Optimization and Space Pruning for Spacecraft Trajectory Design

Global optimization algorithms and space pruning methods represent a recent new paradigm for spacecraft trajectory design. They promise an automated and unbiased search of different trajectory options, freeing the final user from the need for caring about implementation details. In this chapter we provide a unified framework for the definition of trajectory problems as pure mathematical optimiz...

Trajectory and Spacecraft Design for a Pole-Sitter Mission

Relative Attitude Trajectory Tracking Using Line of Sight Measurements under Spacecraft Position Dynamics

This paper considers the problem of controlling relative attitude between two spacecrafts, so as to follow a smoothly time varying desired relative attitude trajectory. The spacecrafts are modelled as rigid bodies and attitudes are represented in non-linear state space of SO(3). The attitude control law proposed does not need relative attitude measurement and is determined from line of sight (L...

Effects Analysis of Frozen Conditions for Spacecraft Relative Motion Dynamics

The purpose of this rersearch is to analyze the effective application of particular earth orbits in dynamical modeling of relative motion problem between two spacecraft. One challenge in implementing these motions is maintaining the relations as it experiences orbital perturbations (zonal harmonics J2 and J3), most notably due to the Earth’s oblateness. Certain aspects of the orbital geometry c...

Feasible Trajectory Generation for Underactuated Spacecraft Using Differential Flatness

We consider the problem of feasible trajectory generation of an underactuated axi-symmetric spacecraft subject to two external torques acting on the plane normal to the symmetry axis. We derive the condition that must be satissed by an attitude history in order to be a feasible trajectory. W e then propose a methodology to generate trajectories satisfying this condition. Our approach makes use ...