Jian Ma1,2, Changxuan Wen3, Chen Zhang2,*
CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.126, No.2, pp. 617-644, 2021, DOI:10.32604/cmes.2021.014474
- 21 January 2021
Abstract High-specific-impulse electric propulsion technology is promising for future space robotic debris removal in sun-synchronous orbits. Such a prospect involves solving a class of challenging problems of low-thrust orbital rendezvous between an active spacecraft and a free-flying debris. This study focuses on computing optimal low-thrust minimum-time many-revolution trajectories, considering the effects of the Earth oblateness perturbations and null thrust in Earth shadow. Firstly, a set of mean-element orbital dynamic equations of a chaser (spacecraft) and a target (debris) are derived by using the orbital averaging technique, and specifically a slow-changing state of the mean longitude difference… More >