R-bar guidance strategy design for the final translation of space rendezvous and docking

Abstract

Aimed at the problem of forced motion along Line of sight of final translation phase of space rendezvous and docking, straight line guidance algorithms of R-bar based on Clohessy-Wiltshire equation are investigated. The guidance laws using impulsive propulsion and finite thrust are designed, and the guidance conditions for optimal-fuel are obtained. Numerical simulation is done to illustrate and analyze the guidance algorithms, and simulation results show that the proposed approaches are simple and efficient, and the guidance law using impulsive thrust costs less fuel and time than that using finite thrust.