Modeling the Transition Between Orbital and Contact Phase in Rendezvous and Proximity Operations

Carrying out proximity operations in Earth or Moon orbit during which a capture or docking operation is forecast requires a strong effort in mission planning in order to complete the approach manoeuver and to manage the complex phase of capture. A complete digital twin of all the satellites and bodies involved in the maneuver can provide a useful tool to design the controllers and to test preliminarily possible options and solutions. Within the MUSAPOEM project this kind of tool is under development. It considers the approach phase and a berthing manoeuver, proposing a set of models conveniently related one to each other in order to simulate the different phases of the mission: far approach, short range approach and berthing.