Retrieval dynamics and control for approach of tethered on-orbit service satellite

Abstract

Approach and docking with space tether system has the advantages of less system complexity and lower cost compared with conventional rendezvous and docking which are usually essential operations in on-orbit service of spacecraft. This paper deals with the relative dynamics and control of the tethered on-orbit service satellite for the process of approach and docking by retrieving tether. Considering the system safety, it is necessary to keep the pitch angle constant or it varying in a small range during the approach. Therefore, we propose a control law for tether retrieval. Specifically, the relative dynamics equations are established to analyze the effects of orbit eccentricity, orbit altitude, and tether length rate on the system dynamics as well as investigate the property of pitch motion. Then the retrieval control law with constant pitch angle constraint is proposed using the dynamic inverse method based on the dynamics analyses. We further discuss the feasible region of orbit eccentricity and constant pitch angle for the control law to retrieve the tether. The numerical simulation experiments show that the proposed law can realize stable retrieval while maintaining a constant pitch angle.