Design and development of Cartesian propulsion system of the autonomous docking module for target acquisition

Abstract

The concept of building an orbital complex  for operational interception of a target is proposed, including in its composition the method of ballistic construction of operational interception, recommendations to the design appearance of the Cartesian propulsion system of the autonomous docking module, functioning at the stage of close-in guidance during tether delivery from the upper stage to the target, at the stage of capture and transfer of the target to the disposal orbit as part of the rotating tether space system. As a criterion for selecting the Cartesian propulsion system design (fuel reserves, thrust of each chamber and their number, minimum change in the coordinates of the autonomous docking module center of mass over the entire interval of Cartesian propulsion system operation), the minimum mass of the autonomous docking module is taken. For comparison, two methods of constructing the ballistic scheme of target intercept are considered: the classical method, with the orbital complex entering the target orbit with zero relative velocities, and the method based on the use of rotating tether space system, with the orbital complex entering the target intercept orbit with velocities at the rendezvous point of up to 200 m/s.