A Vision-Based Close Approach for KITSAT-1 Capture

The active remove of space debris has been coming up the issue for stabilizing the space environments these days. In line with this, KAIST Satellite Technology Research Center (SaTReC) intends to conduct the project to capture KITSAT-1, launched on August 11, 1992 as Korea’s first artificial satellite. As an ADR purpose, we could approach to the KITSAT-1 based on the TLE information provided by CSpOC (Combined Space Operation Center). However, TLE information and its orbit propagation error are not sufficient to rendezvous to KITSAT-1. Therefore, in this paper, we applied vision-based navigation and control concept at after it reaches close to KITSAT-1 for vision-based navigation using same type as previously developed star tracker. As a simulation result, we verified that the chaser satellite could reached to closely enough to capture KITSAT-1 without TLE orbit information.