On Constrained Feedback Control of Spacecraft Orbital Transfer Maneuvers

The paper revisits a Lyapunov-based feedback control to implement spacecraft orbital transfer maneuvers. The spacecraft equations of motion in the form of Gauss Variational Equations (GVEs) are used. By shaping the Lyapunov function using barrier functions, we demonstrate that state and control constraints during orbital maneuvers can be enforced. Simulation results from orbital maneuvering scenarios are reported. The synergistic use of the reference governor in conjunction with the barrier functions is proposed to ensure convergence to the target orbit (liveness) while satisfying the imposed constraints.