Application of Chebyshev collocation method for relocating of spacecrafts in Hill’s frame

In this study, the Chebyshev collocation method is used for solving the spacecraft relative motion of equations in Hill’s frame. Three different models of governing equations of relative motion (M1, M2, and M3) are considered and the maneuver cost required moving the spacecraft from one state to another is computed in the form of delta velocity at the first terminal point as a function of time of flight (TOF) and inter-satellite distance (ISD). A quantitative as well as qualitative difference is observed in the maneuver cost with the inclusion of radial and/or out of plane separation in along track separation of chaser. Also, a relative comparison of path profiles is made by considering M1, M2 and M3 models. Path profiles for M3 model are found close to M2 model for short intervals for a fixed ISD, whereas path profiles for M2 and M3 do not match even for small values of ISD for a fixed but long TOF. Path profiles for M1 models match to M2 model for very low values of target orbit eccentricities.