Kinematics Analysis and Simulation on Formation-Based Space Net Dragging Process

Formation-based space net capture is a novel mode for spacecraft capturing and docking. After the object is successfully captured by space net, the relative movement model is firstly established based on the orbit elements after the target has been captured. Then, main disturbance elements for the spacecraft in the process of space net dragging are analyzed in detail. Besides, numerical simulations are carried out, whose results show that the formation mode is an effective means for investigating the complex compounded body movement. Moreover, the movement law between spacecraft and its capture target is derived via simulation. It turns out that the target will surround the spacecraft around its orbit.