Use of automated rendezvous trajectory planning to improve spacecraft operations efficiency
Abstract
The current planning process for space shuttle rendezvous with a second Earth-orbiting vehicle is time consuming and costly. It is a labor-intensive, manual process performed pre-mission with the aid of specialized maneuver processing tools. Real-time execution of a rendezvous plan must closely follow a predicted trajectory, and targeted solutions leading up to the terminal phase are computed on the ground. Despite over 25 years of Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, and shuttle vehicle-to-vehicle rendezvous missions flown to date, rendezvous in Earth orbit still requires careful monitoring and cannot be taken for granted. For example, a significant trajectory offset was experienced during terminal phase rendezvous of the STS-32 Long Duration Exposure Facility retrieval mission. Several improvements can be introduced to the present rendezvous planning process to reduce costs, produce more fuel-efficient profiles, and increase the probability of mission success.
- Publication:
-
Automated Rendezvous and Capture Review. Executive Summary
- Pub Date:
- 1991
- Bibcode:
- 1991arcr.nasaV....M
- Keywords:
-
- Autonomous Navigation;
- Earth Orbital Rendezvous;
- Mission Planning;
- Rendezvous Trajectories;
- Trajectory Planning;
- Automatic Flight Control;
- Cost Reduction;
- Space Shuttle Missions;
- Astrodynamics