Review of Angles-Only Navigation Technique for Spacecraft Autonomous Rendezvous and Docking

Abstract

Since the navigation sensors used in angles-only navigation are simple, angles-only navigation will be a critical enabling technique for spacecraft autonomous rendezvous and docking (AR&D). This paper reviews the angles-only navigation technique for spacecraft AR&D, including the concept, application analysis, on-orbit verification, current status, and future development trend of angles-only navigation technique. The current status, inadequacies, and questions for further study of four research methods in angles-only navigation technique are summarized, including nonlinear dynamics method, multi-satellite multi-sensor method, orbital maneuver method, and camera offset method, which provide new ideas and directions for the engineering application and academic research on angles-only navigation technique.