Tracking the Trajectory of Space Debris in Close Proximity via a Vision-Based Method

• Published in: Journal of aerospace engineering Vol. 27; no. 2; pp. 238 - 248
• Main Authors: Li, N, Xu, Y, Basset, G, Fitz-Coy, N. G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Society of Civil Engineers 01.03.2014
• Subjects: Technical Papers
• ISSN: 0893-1321; 1943-5525
• DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)AS.1943-5525.0000265

AbstractThe increasingly cluttered environment in space is placing a premium on future spacecraft and satellites that are capable of tracking and estimating the trajectory of unknown space debris autonomously without consistent communication with ground stations. In this paper, a vision-based debris trajectory–tracking method in close proximity is presented using two cameras onboard of two satellites in a formation. To differentiate the target debris from other clutters, a data-association technique is investigated. A two-stage nonlinear robust controller is developed to adjust the attitude of the satellites such that the target debris can be maintained within the field of view of the onboard cameras. Capabilities of the proposed estimation and control methods are validated in the simulations.