Online trajectory planning for finite-thrust autonomous rendezvous with light-of-sight constraint

This paper formulates and solves the problem of optimal rendezvous trajectory of a powered chaser and a passive target in a circular orbit. The HCW equations are derived to describe the relative motion in a close range. Then, the rendezvous problems are explicitly formulated as an online trajectory planning problem by using the proposed method. In order to consider practical constraints, the finite-thrust propulsion system are selected. Meanwhile, a light-of-sight constraint is imposed for vision-based sensing and safety considerations. Finally, simulations are implemented with different scenarios by using Matlab, and the results illustrate the method proposed is able to drive the spacecraft rendezvous with the target along the fixed docking direction safely and fuel efficiently.