The objective of this proposal was to develop a real-time convex optimization based methodology and onboard algorithms for constrained attitude control with optimal actuator utilization. The constrained attitude control was first planned attitude trajectories (i.e., turns) and then to execute, track, these trajectories. A challenging aspect of the constrained attitude control problems is the pointing constraints. Common pointing constraints are due to sensors that must not face the Sun and sensors that must keep lock with a relative target (e.g., point relative sensor at another spacecraft for rendezvous and point sensor at surface feature during a flyby). Another example of pointing constraints are due to plume impingement. In Formation Flying, Primitive Body Proximity Operations, and Autonomous Rendezvous and Docking, with application to on-orbit inspection), thruster plume impingement must be avoided on other spacecraft or the science site(thruster exhaust must not corrupt the surface). Furthermore there are limitations on available power/fuel and available torque, that is, overall attitude controllability is constrained. By developing robust autonomous methods to achieve the mission goals in the presence of all of the above constraints makes the constrained attitude control a challenging problem, which was the focus of the proposed research.


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