Robust optimal rendezvous using differential drag

The practical realization of the differential drag technique for orbital relative maneuvers must cope with the several and severe uncertainty sources affecting drag modeling. Neglecting these uncertainties might yield to oversimplified solutions whose representation of a real-life scenario is questionable. The first outcome of this study consists in the synthesis of a robust optimal controller which combines differential flatness theory and the scenario approach to generate a reference path which can be easily followed. The second outcome is the characterization of the relevant uncertainties of the differential drag problem, with a special focus on the aerodynamic force. The developments are validated in a highly detailed simulation environment including, among the perturbations, advanced drag modeling and coupled attitude and orbital dynamics.