Close-Proximity Operations Design, Analysis, and Validation for Non-Cooperative Targets with an Application to the ClearSpace-1 Mission
This paper addresses the design, analysis, and validation of safe close-proximity operations around uncooperative targets, with an application to the ClearSpace-1 (CS-1) mission. It is focused on the areas of Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC), and Mission Analysis, due to their criticality for...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Aerospace |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/12/1/67 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832589470533156864 |
|---|---|
| author | José Vasconcelos Serena Gaggi Tiago Amaral Charles Bakouche Adina Cotuna Ana Friaças |
| author_facet | José Vasconcelos Serena Gaggi Tiago Amaral Charles Bakouche Adina Cotuna Ana Friaças |
| author_sort | José Vasconcelos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper addresses the design, analysis, and validation of safe close-proximity operations around uncooperative targets, with an application to the ClearSpace-1 (CS-1) mission. It is focused on the areas of Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC), and Mission Analysis, due to their criticality for the success and safety of this kind of operation. The relevance of the concepts, of the GNC solutions, and their validation is demonstrated for the case study of CS-1, a reference mission for the rendezvous, capture, and de-orbiting of an uncooperative target (i.e., the VESPA payload adapter). It is shown how the design approach can be adopted for the Concept of Operations of CS-1, covering the definition of keep-out zones, corridors, and GO/NO GO criteria, for assessing the passive safety of trajectories, and for the incorporation of active safety strategies. The analysis is adopted for functional chains such as the Navigation and Control, and the combination of a prototyping and a high-fidelity simulator is adopted for directed Model-in-the-Loop Monte-Carlo campaigns. The outcomes are intended to support the industry in the development of Close-Proximity Operations similar to that of CS-1. These can be adopted in a wide variety of missions, including Active Debris Removal and In-Orbit Servicing. In particular, the adopted concepts are a key contribution to the standardization of Close-Proximity Operations for non-cooperative rendezvous missions, and act towards a sustainable and safe commercial application. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-60a9d49631f145a485c780f4eaa40b9f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2226-4310 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Aerospace |
| spelling | doaj-art-60a9d49631f145a485c780f4eaa40b9f2025-01-24T13:15:42ZengMDPI AGAerospace2226-43102025-01-011216710.3390/aerospace12010067Close-Proximity Operations Design, Analysis, and Validation for Non-Cooperative Targets with an Application to the ClearSpace-1 MissionJosé Vasconcelos0Serena Gaggi1Tiago Amaral2Charles Bakouche3Adina Cotuna4Ana Friaças5Deimos Engenharia, Av. Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro 75, 9 A1, 1070-061 Lisboa, PortugalDeimos Engenharia, Av. Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro 75, 9 A1, 1070-061 Lisboa, PortugalDeimos Engenharia, Av. Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro 75, 9 A1, 1070-061 Lisboa, PortugalClearspace, Rue de Lausanne 64, 1020 Renens, SwitzerlandEuropean Space Agency, Keplerlaan 1, 2201 AZ Noordwijk, The NetherlandsDeimos Engenharia, Av. Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro 75, 9 A1, 1070-061 Lisboa, PortugalThis paper addresses the design, analysis, and validation of safe close-proximity operations around uncooperative targets, with an application to the ClearSpace-1 (CS-1) mission. It is focused on the areas of Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC), and Mission Analysis, due to their criticality for the success and safety of this kind of operation. The relevance of the concepts, of the GNC solutions, and their validation is demonstrated for the case study of CS-1, a reference mission for the rendezvous, capture, and de-orbiting of an uncooperative target (i.e., the VESPA payload adapter). It is shown how the design approach can be adopted for the Concept of Operations of CS-1, covering the definition of keep-out zones, corridors, and GO/NO GO criteria, for assessing the passive safety of trajectories, and for the incorporation of active safety strategies. The analysis is adopted for functional chains such as the Navigation and Control, and the combination of a prototyping and a high-fidelity simulator is adopted for directed Model-in-the-Loop Monte-Carlo campaigns. The outcomes are intended to support the industry in the development of Close-Proximity Operations similar to that of CS-1. These can be adopted in a wide variety of missions, including Active Debris Removal and In-Orbit Servicing. In particular, the adopted concepts are a key contribution to the standardization of Close-Proximity Operations for non-cooperative rendezvous missions, and act towards a sustainable and safe commercial application.https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/12/1/67GNCActive Debris Removalclose-proximity operationssafetyverification and validation |
| spellingShingle | José Vasconcelos Serena Gaggi Tiago Amaral Charles Bakouche Adina Cotuna Ana Friaças Close-Proximity Operations Design, Analysis, and Validation for Non-Cooperative Targets with an Application to the ClearSpace-1 Mission Aerospace GNC Active Debris Removal close-proximity operations safety verification and validation |
| title | Close-Proximity Operations Design, Analysis, and Validation for Non-Cooperative Targets with an Application to the ClearSpace-1 Mission |
| title_full | Close-Proximity Operations Design, Analysis, and Validation for Non-Cooperative Targets with an Application to the ClearSpace-1 Mission |
| title_fullStr | Close-Proximity Operations Design, Analysis, and Validation for Non-Cooperative Targets with an Application to the ClearSpace-1 Mission |
| title_full_unstemmed | Close-Proximity Operations Design, Analysis, and Validation for Non-Cooperative Targets with an Application to the ClearSpace-1 Mission |
| title_short | Close-Proximity Operations Design, Analysis, and Validation for Non-Cooperative Targets with an Application to the ClearSpace-1 Mission |
| title_sort | close proximity operations design analysis and validation for non cooperative targets with an application to the clearspace 1 mission |
| topic | GNC Active Debris Removal close-proximity operations safety verification and validation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/12/1/67 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT josevasconcelos closeproximityoperationsdesignanalysisandvalidationfornoncooperativetargetswithanapplicationtotheclearspace1mission AT serenagaggi closeproximityoperationsdesignanalysisandvalidationfornoncooperativetargetswithanapplicationtotheclearspace1mission AT tiagoamaral closeproximityoperationsdesignanalysisandvalidationfornoncooperativetargetswithanapplicationtotheclearspace1mission AT charlesbakouche closeproximityoperationsdesignanalysisandvalidationfornoncooperativetargetswithanapplicationtotheclearspace1mission AT adinacotuna closeproximityoperationsdesignanalysisandvalidationfornoncooperativetargetswithanapplicationtotheclearspace1mission AT anafriacas closeproximityoperationsdesignanalysisandvalidationfornoncooperativetargetswithanapplicationtotheclearspace1mission |