A New Strategy for Space V-bar Rendezvous Based on Combined Maneuvers
- Paper number
IAC-06-C1.7.08
- Author
Prof. Yang Leping, National University of Defense Technology, China
- Coauthor
Mr. Zhu Yanwei, National University of Defense Technology, China
- Coauthor
Mrs. An Xueying, National University of Defense Technology, China
- Year
2006
- Abstract
Current strategies for space V-bar rendezvous mostly use single control modes: impulse or continuous thrust control. Their rendezvous processes are very complex, and the absolute motions of chasers are not clear. Therefore, a new strategy is presented based on the combination of a tangential impulse maneuver and a constant continuous radial thrust maneuver. That is to say, the constant continuous radial thrust begins to work when the tangential impulse maneuver occurs, at the premise that the chaser goes along its initial circular orbit. As a result, the chaser approximately makes straight line motion relative to the target. The absolute and relative motions of the chaser in combined maneuvers are investigated. Suppose the chaser maintains initial circular orbit, we find that the constant continuous radial thrust f and the tangential impulse Δ v satisfy the relation, f=-2ωΔ v, where ω is the angular rate of the target. Then, the control mode based on combined maneuvers is applied in space rendezvous V-bar approach and final translation, and their guidance rules are derived respectively. For V-bar approach, the chaser’s transfer trajectory is straight, without any constraints of transfer duration and line of sight. If required, this process can pause at the expense of 2Δ v. For V-bar final translation, the chaser’s straight line motion is switched from a higher constant speed to docking velocity at the given position, which is irrelevant to velocity increment. Furthermore, the cuboid flight-forbidden-zone is introduced to analyze the safety of the trajectory of final translation, which is the key factor to determine where the velocity is switched. The results show that the new strategy for Space V-bar Rendezvous based on combined maneuvers is easy to guide and control, while the chaser’s transfer trajectory is straight and safer.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-06-C1.7.08.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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