Optimal control of an elastic techered system for capturing a space payload

A study is made to utilize an elastic tethered system for the rendezvous and capturing a space payload. The necessary conditions are derived for an optimal rendezvous between a non-cooperative payload and an elastic tethered system in arbitrary orbits. The minimum energy guidance law is determined by using the direct Gauss pseudo-spectral method, and the validity of solution is well demonstrated through case studies. It is shown that the rendezvous maneuver can be achieved by using only a tension control and the out-of-plane thrust force.