A Study of Time-Optimal Rendezvous in Three Dimensions (Vol. 1)

Abstract

The results of a study of time optimal rendezvous in three dimensions with bounds on the rocket thrust and the available propellant are described. The equations of motion are linearized and Neustadt's method is used to solve the two-point boundary value problem in the seven-dimensional state space. Three convergence acceleration schemes are studied. Examples of terminal rendezvous paths are presented and discussed in terms of the magnitudes of the bounds on thrust and fuel. The dependence of terminal errors on initial measurement errors in position and velocity is also discussed. The range of initial values include position errors up to 25 miles and relative velocity errors of 200 ft/sec. The thrust accelerations of the rockets are on the order of 1 ft/sec-sq; the propellant bounds (ideal characteristic velocities) range between 600 ft/sec and 250 ft/sec.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1965
Accession Number
AD0624218

Entities

People

  • Bernard H. Paiewonsky
  • Peter J. Woodrow

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Boundary Value Problems
  • Computational Science
  • Computer Programs
  • Computer Simulations
  • Computers
  • Coordinate Systems
  • Differential Equations
  • Equations
  • Equations Of Motion
  • Guidance
  • Orbits
  • Relative Motion
  • Rendezvous
  • Rendezvous Trajectories
  • Space Rendezvous
  • Three Dimensional
  • Trajectories

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Control Systems Engineering.
  • Finite Element Method (FEM) for solving Partial Differential Equations (PDEs)
  • Rocket Propulsion.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster
  • Space - Orbital Debris