Perturbed relative trajectory design for on-orbit servicing to uncooperative targets in geostationary orbits
Year: 2025
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: This study focuses on the relative trajectory design for safe rendezvous with non-cooperative targets in the geostationary orbit, where on-orbit servicing is increasingly relevant.An empirical formulation, previously used for differential aerodynamic drag, leverages the filter properties of the Hill-Clohessy-Wiltshire equations to model differential solar radiation pressure.The so-obtained analytical model is compared with literature references and validated through a numerical propagator that handles the satellites' absolute orbits.The relative orbital elements' framework formalises the dependence on different release times from a Keplerian station-keeping condition.These theoretical findings, along with the eccentricity/inclination vector separation, support the enhanced passive safety concepts derived for bounded and high-drift trajectories and are applied to a realistic case-study far-range rendezvous.
Authors: COSTANTINI Pietro, GAIAS Gabriella
Language: Eng
Subfield: Aerospace Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7106323006