Onboard Development of Autonomous Low-Thrust Guidance

Abstract

In this work, we adapt low-thrust guidance laws for embedded use on a space processor to demonstrate the feasibil-ity of control autonomy for satellite transfer trajectories. The guidance approach is converted to a discrete-time formulation and implemented in software that conforms to APL's flight processor suite standards. Two representative trial problems are tuned for a feasible sampling frequency and profiled for memory and processing on representative CPU's. The initial findings are favorable for potential flight implementation.