Control strategy design for forced fly-around against the tumbling target based on differential geometric principle

Abstract

Forced fly-around of spacecraft is the basis for tracking and capturing space tumbling target in active debris removal mission. In this paper, the relative kinematic equation between chaser and target is first obtained with the help of classical differential geometry principle. Then, taking the attitude dynamic model of tumbling target into consideration, the finite time convergence sliding model control (FTCSMC) is designed to enable the forced fly-around in the line of sight rotation coordinate system. Finally, the effectiveness and robustness of the control strategy are verified in two typical cases by numerical simulation.