US 12,378,007 B2
Methods and systems for generating a mission plan that guides a spacecraft to orbiting target objects
Leo H. Hui, Alhambra, CA (US); Haig F. Krikorian, Fullerton, CA (US); and Chrysanthie D. Chamis, Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA (US)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed on Jun. 23, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/340,613.
Prior Publication US 2024/0425206 A1, Dec. 26, 2024
Int. Cl. B64G 1/24 (2006.01); B64G 1/10 (2006.01); B64G 1/64 (2006.01); G05D 1/683 (2024.01); G05D 1/697 (2024.01); G05D 109/40 (2024.01)
CPC B64G 1/247 (2023.08) [B64G 1/1078 (2013.01); B64G 1/242 (2013.01); B64G 1/2427 (2023.08); B64G 1/646 (2013.01); G05D 1/683 (2024.01); G05D 1/697 (2024.01); G05D 2109/40 (2024.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method executed by a controller onboard a spacecraft to generate a mission plan in real-time that guides the spacecraft along a space autonomous mission to rendezvous with two or more orbiting target objects, the method comprising:
establishing, for two or more orbiting target objects to visit, potential permutations for all possible unique maneuver sequences in which to visit the two or more orbiting target objects;
for each potential permutation, determining a collision-free maneuver plan for defining orbit trajectories to intercept each of the two or more orbiting target objects for each of the possible unique maneuver sequences;
based on the collision-free maneuver plan for each potential permutation, determining an optimal permutation from the potential permutations that meets viewing constraints of the two or more orbiting target objects, a viewing priority, and fuel constraints of the spacecraft, wherein the optimal permutation is further based on an orbit transfer location of the spacecraft and an inspection starting location on the two or more orbiting target objects;
generating a mission visit plan, using the optimal permutation, for the spacecraft to rendezvous with and inspect the two or more orbiting target objects; and
causing the spacecraft to rendezvous with and inspect the two or more orbiting target objects according to the mission visit plan.