Eur. Phys. J. Special Topics 229, 1419–1427 (2020)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjst/e2020-900194-x

Regular Article

Reducing the risk of space debris collisions using conditions or performance simultaneous operation in minimum time

Departmento de Fsica, Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana (UEFS), Feira de Santana, Brazil

^a e-mail: a1d1j1@uefs.br

Received: 12 September 2019
Received in final form: 20 November 2019
Published online: 29 May 2020

Abstract

Space vehicle missions are subject to collisions with space debris. The possibility of catastrophic accidents is confirmed with the constant growth of the launch rates. The mitigation measures include the sending of tug vehicles that seek to capture debris and bring them to regions of atmospheric drag activity. Rendezvous maneuvers require safety operations, considering the risk of collision at the moment of coupling between operational vehicles, in the operations of SpaceClean, among others. The perfect Rendezvous is accomplished with relative speed and position null, but this condition needs to be achieved with sufficient technological precision. In this work, we find this condition and the propulsion technological parameters for simultaneous and minimum time Rendezvous maneuvering, through solutions of a multivariable equation.