Optimal bounded low-thrust rendezvous with fixed terminal-approach direction

The bounded, low-thrust, fixed-time, fuel-optimal constrained terminal approach direction rendezvous using the relative linearized equations of motion is investigated. A minimum fuel, two-stage solution is developed. In the first stage, optimal transfer from initial conditions to an intermediate point in the final line approach is implemented. In the second stage, an optimal thrust program guaranteeing directional approach is applied. Optimal rendezvous with fixed terminal approach is achieved bg minimizing overall fuel consumption as a function of the intermediate point relative location and velocity in the final line approach. Solutions are generated and analyzed with final time as a parameter. Numerical results for a representative case are presented.