AUTOMATIC RENDEZVOUS IN SPACE

Abstract : A system of automatic rendezvous and docking of artificial earth satellites, similar to the system used for the Cosmos 186-188 and 212-213 pairs, is presented. The basic coordinate systems, the equations of motion, and the components and operation of the guidance system are described. System operation logic is discussed and a brief summary of the first experiment (Cosmos 186-188) is given.