Journal of Technology in Aerospace Engineering

Journal of Technology in Aerospace Engineering

Nonlinear Control of Two Non-Cooperative Spacecraft for Orbital Rendezvous and Proximity Operations Using a Sliding Mode Controller and a Third-Order Sliding Mode Observer with Finite-Time Convergence

Document Type : Research Article

Authors
Majid Bakhtiari 1
Seyed Alireza Kazemi 1
Jalil Beyramzad 2
Amirhossein Panahyazdan 1
1 School of Advanced Technology, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran
2 School of Mechanical Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology,Tehran, Iran
10.22034/jtae.2026.10.1.2
Abstract
With the growing reliance on space-based technologies in daily applications, space missions have gained strategic significance. Missions such as orbital inspection, space station assembly, debris removal, and in-orbit refueling now represent critical operational priorities. Consequently, simultaneous control of relative position and attitude in spacecraft systems has attracted increasing research interest. This study presents a nonlinear control strategy for rendezvous and proximity operations between two non-cooperative spacecraft. The 6-degree-of-freedom relative motion dynamics are modeled by coupling translational and rotational motions into a set of second-order nonlinear equations. An integral nonsingular terminal sliding mode control method is proposed to enhance tracking performance during both transient and steady-state phases. To estimate aggregated uncertainties—including external disturbances and parametric variations-and accurately reconstruct velocity states, a third-order sliding-mode observer is designed. This observer ensures finite-time convergence and delivers high-precision estimation of system states and uncertainties. Simulation results, compared with prior methods, confirm the proposed control system's superior tracking accuracy, rapid response, reduced chattering, robustness against system uncertainties, and accelerated convergence to the sliding manifold. These findings validate the control system’s effectiveness for high-precision orbital rendezvous and proximity operations under non-cooperative conditions.
Keywords
Advanced State Observer
Sliding Mode
Modified Rodrigues Parameters
Nonlinear Control
Spacecraft Proximity Operations
Subjects
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  • Receive Date 12 March 2025
  • Revise Date 07 June 2025
  • Accept Date 22 July 2025
  • First Publish Date 27 August 2025