Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A Guidance and Navigation Strategy for Rendezvous and Proximity Operations with a Noncooperative Spacecraft in Geosynchronous Orbit

  • Published:
The Journal of the Astronautical Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The feasibility and benefits of various spacecraft servicing concepts are currently being assessed, and all require that servicer spacecraft perform rendezvous, proximity operations, and capture operations with the spacecraft to be serviced. There are many high-value commercial and military spacecraft located in geosynchronous orbit (GEO) which may be candidates for servicing, but GEO is a regime in which rendezvous and capture operations are not commonplace; further, most GEO spacecraft were not designed to be cooperative rendezvous targets, and some may even be completely nonfunctional and therefore potentially tumbling. In this work we present elements of a guidance and navigation strategy for rendezvous and proximity operations with a noncooperative spacecraft in GEO. Translational Δv is assessed for a passively safe co-elliptic rendezvous approach sequence that is followed by injection into a safety ellipse about a noncooperative tumbling spacecraft and, ultimately, final approach to capture. Covariance analysis is presented for a simulation of range and bearing measurements throughout the rendezvous and proximity operations sequence.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. BATTIN, R. H. An Introduction to the Mathematics and Methods of Astrodynamics, Ch. 7. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc., revised ed., 1999.

  2. GILL, E., MONTENBRUCK, O., D’AMICO, S., and PERSSON, S. “Autonomous Satellite Formation Flying for the PRISMA Technology Demonstration Mission,” Proceedings of the 16th AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Conference, January 2006, Tampa, Florida.

  3. INALHAN, G., TILLERSON, M., and HOW, J. P. “Relative Dynamics and Control of Spacecraft Formations in Eccentric Orbits,” Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, Vol. 25, Jan–Feb 2002, pp. 48–59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. NAASZ, B. J. “Safety Ellipse Motion With Coarse Sun Angle Optimization,” Proceedings of the NASA-GSFC Flight Mechanics Symposium, October 2005, Greenbelt, Maryland.

  5. GAYLOR, D. E. and BARBEE, B. W. “Algorithms for Safe Spacecraft Proximity Operations,” Proceedings of the AAS/AIAA Spaceflight Mechanics Meeting, January 2007, Sedona, Arizona.

  6. CLOHESSY, W. H. and WILTSHIRE, R. S. “Terminal Guidance System for Satellite Rendezvous,” The Journal of the Aerospace Sciences, Vol. 27, Sept. 1960, pp. 653–658.

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  7. BAMFORD, B., NAASZ, B. J., and MOREAU, M. “Navigation Performance in High Earth Orbits Using Navigator GPS Receiver,” Proceedings of the 29th Annual AAS Guidance and Control Conference, Feb 4–8 2006, Breckenridge, CO.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 595, 8800 Greenbelt Road, Greenbelt, MD, 20771, USA

    Brent W. Barbee (Aerospace Engineer), J. Russell Carpenter (Aerospace Engineer), Michael Moreau (Aerospace Engineer) & Bo J. Naasz (Aerospace Engineer)

  2. NASA GSFC’s Wallops Flight Facility, Code 598, Rt. 175, Wallops Island, VA, 23337, USA

    Scott Heatwole (Aerospace Engineer)

  3. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 591, 8800 Greenbelt Road, Greenbelt, MD, 20771, USA

    F. Landis Markley (Aerospace Engineer) & John Van Eepoel (Aerospace Engineer)

Authors
  1. Brent W. Barbee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. Russell Carpenter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Scott Heatwole
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. F. Landis Markley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Michael Moreau
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Bo J. Naasz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. John Van Eepoel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Barbee, B.W., Carpenter, J.R., Heatwole, S. et al. A Guidance and Navigation Strategy for Rendezvous and Proximity Operations with a Noncooperative Spacecraft in Geosynchronous Orbit. J of Astronaut Sci 58, 389–408 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03321176

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03321176

Keywords

Search

Navigation