Automated Rendezvous and Docking of Spacecraft

The definitive reference for space engineers on all issues related to rendezvous and docking/berthing (RVD/B).

Formerly Head of the Navigation and Guidance Section of ESA and ESA's leading rendezvous expert, Wigbert Fehse has worked on a large number of high profile international projects including the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) and Crew Return Vehicle (CRV) currently under development for the International Space Station.

Preface; 1. Introduction; 2. The phases of a rendezvous mission; 3. Orbit dynamics and trajectory elements; 4. Approach safety and collision avoidance; 5. The drivers for the approach strategy; 6. The onboard rendezvous control strategy; 7. Sensors for rendezvous navigation; 8. Mating systems; 9. Space- and ground-system setup; 10. Verification and validation; Appendix A. Motion dynamics; Appendix B. Rendezvous strategies of existing vehicles; Appendix C. Rendezvous vehicles of the ISS scenario; Appendix D. Nomenclature.