Linearized impulsive rendezvous problem (Q1905936)

The solution of the problem of impulsive minimization of a weighted sum of characteristic velocities of a spacecraft subject to linear equations of motion is presented without the use of calculus of variations or optimal control theory. The geometric structure of the set of boundary points associated with an optimal primer vector is found to be a simplex composed of convex conical sets. This work is applied to the problem of planar rendezvous of a spacecraft with a satellite in Keplerian orbit using the Tschauner-Hempel equations of motion, with special emphasis on four-impulse solutions.