Sub-optimized rendez-vous approach sequence

A possible rendezvous approach sequence at constant line of sight angle and with a suboptimized total impulse is considered. The technique is compared, via simulation program, with a constant radial acceleration technique. It is found that the total impulse requirement of the optimized method is always less than the relevant requirement of the constant acceleration method. The real fuel consumption requirement of the two methods is approximately the same for low initial distances (some kilometers). For high initial distances (tens of kilometers), the total fuel requirement for the optimized method can be considerably lower than for the other method. When the rendezvous directions are about 90 deg, however, the requirement is about the same.