Article Title
Target sequence optimization for multiple debris rendezvous using low thrust based on characteristics of SSO
Keywords
multiple debris rendezvous, sun-synchronous orbits (SSO), low thrust, optimal control
Abstract
A method is proposed to select the target sequence for a J2-perturbed multiple debrisrendezvous mission aimed at removing dozens of debris from several thousand debriscandidates running on sun-synchronous orbits (SSO). The solving methodology proceeds intwo steps: Firstly, the variance of the right ascension of ascending node (RAAN) of the debrisgroup is used for narrowing down the potential debris candidate; secondly, the debris of thecandidate group that has closest RAAN to the current debris is chosen as the next debris.The low thrust near-minimum-fuel trajectories of each rendezvous leg are obtained by theindirect optimization method. The proposed approach is demonstrated for the problemof the 8th China Trajectory Optimization Competition (CTOC). The radar cross section(RCS) of the debris is also considered in the first step since the primary performance indexof the competition is to maximize the total RCS of the debris visited. The results showthat the proposed approach achieves better performance within a competition period. Ofthe many rendezvous sequences found, the best one submitted for the competition obtaineda total RCS of 184 by accomplishing rendezvous with 70 debris within a transfer durationof one year.
Publisher
Tsinghua University Press
Recommended Citation
Shuge Zhao, Jingrui Zhang, Kaiheng Xiang et al. Target sequence optimization for multiple debris rendezvous using low thrust based on characteristics of SSO.Astrodyn.2017, 1(1): 85–99.