Optimizing spacecraft reorientation maneuvers using a pseudospectral method

Abstract

This paper examines the problems of optimal reorientation of a spacecraft for the time-optimal, fuel- optimal, and combined time- and fuel-optimal cases. The solutions are generated via a pseudospectral method, which is shown to perform well for this problem. Comparison with the literature indicates that the time-optimal problem appears in some cases to exhibit multiple local minima, each satisfying the necessary conditions for optimality.