On-orbit service mission programming and orbit optimization for multi-object-spacecraft

Autonomous on-orbit servicing of satellite leads to a significant saving in mission life-cycle costs. In this paper, we assume the scenario that one carrier spacecraft is launched to a preliminary orbit at first, and then release several small serving spacecrafts, such as space robots, to accomplish the relevant on-orbit service missions for multi-object-spacecraft. In addition, the long-distance orbital transfer time could reach an optimal value with limited fuel via proper mission programming and orbit optimization. The preliminary orbit of the carrier spacecraft is designed based on the orbital elements of all the object satellites. The released occasion and transfer orbits of the small serving spacecrafts are determined via the optimization method based on the universal variable method and nonlinear programming. The long-distance minimum transfer time is obtained with limited fuel. The optimization calculation is accomplished in virtue of Matlab optimization tools, and the optimization algorithm can converge promptly with a favorable initial estimate. The simulation demonstrates the availability of the service strategy and the effectiveness of this algorithm. The simulation result indicates that the strategy can be widely used for multi-object-spacecraft on-orbit services.