Rendezvous approach guidance for uncooperative tumbling satellites

The development of a Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) guidance algorithm for approaching uncooperative tumbling satellites has multiple purposes including on-orbit satellite servicing, space debris removal, asteroid mining, and on-orbit assembly. This thesis develops a guidance algorithm within the framework of on-orbit satellite servicing, but is extendable to other mission scenarios. The author tests the algorithm in an RPO simulation with an uncooperative tumbling satellite near Geo-stationary Orbit (GEO) starting at a relative distance of 50 m and ending at a relative distance of 5 m. Examples of potential uncooperative tumbling clients include decommissioned satellites or satellites with malfunctioning thrusters. Due to the low Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of autonomous (RPO) missions, first missions prefer to use flight proven technologies. This thesis implements a guidance algorithm based on the flight proven Clohessy-Wiltshire (CW) and space shuttle glideslope equations which command a sequence of burns to close the distance between the servicer and client while matching the client satellite's rotation rate. The author validates the guidance algorithm through Monte Carlo (MC) analysis in a Three Degrees of Freedom (3DOF) simulation. Fuel use metrics characterize the sensitivity of the algorithm. Fuel consumption is measured by the total velocity changes, or [delta]V, needed to complete the maneuvers. Cumulative [delta]V sensitivity is measured against navigational uncertainty in the rotational axis to summarize the key requirements and trade-offs associated with implementing this algorithm.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2019

Author dc:creator

• Chan, Manwei.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Russell Sargent and Paulo Lozano.

• Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Statement dc:rights

• MIT theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed, downloaded, or printed from this source but further reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/122374

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/122374