Collision Avoidance Maneuver Optimization: A Fast and Accurate Semi-analytical Approach

Abstract

In this graduation thesis, a novel semi-analytical method for collision avoidance maneuver optimization is presented. It is based on a linearization of the accurate Dromo orbital elements formulation, which allows to write the optimization problem in a simple way. Predicted direct impacts have analytical solution, while non-direct impacts are reduced to a simple non-linear equation easily solvable. In this way, maximum achievable miss distance or minimum Gaussian collision probability for a fixed delta-V magnitude, or minimum delta-V magnitude for a fixed Gaussian collision probability are calculated. The accuracy of the algorithm is verified in representative mission scenarios including real cases with actual data. The method can be used for collision avoidance maneuver planning with reduced computational cost, compared to fully numerical algorithm, and is implemented in the software tool OCCAM (Optimal Computation of Collision Avoidance Maneuvers). A demo version of OCCAM is available at: http://sdg.aero.upm.es/index.php/online-apps/occam-lite