Development of a guidance, navigation and control architecture and validation process enabling autonomous docking to a tumbling satellite

The capability to routinely perform autonomous docking is a key enabling technology for future space exploration, as well as assembly and servicing missions for spacecraft and commercial satellites. Particularly, in more challenging situations where the target spacecraft or satellite is tumbling, algorithms and strategies must be implemented to ensure the safety of both docking entities in the event of anomalies. However, difficulties encountered in past docking missions conducted with expensive satellites on orbit have indicated a lack of maturity in the technologies required for such operations. Therefore, more experimentation must be performed to improve the current autonomous docking capabilities. The main objectives of the research presented in this thesis are to develop a guidance, navigation and control (GN&C) architecture that enables the safe and fuel-efficient docking with a free tumbling target in the presence of obstacles and anomalies, and to develop the software tools and verification processes necessary in order to successfully demonstrate the GN&C architecture in a relevant environment. The GN&C architecture was developed by integrating a spectrum of GN&C algorithms including estimation, control, path planning, and failure detection, isolation and recovery algorithms.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2007

Author dc:creator

• Nolet, Simon, 1975-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• David W. Miller.

• Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

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

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/39697

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/39697