Optimal Trajectory Planning for Space Object Tracking with Collision-Avoidance Constraints

Abstract: A control optimization approach is presented for a chaser spacecraft tasked with maintaining proximity to a target space object while avoiding collisions. The target object trajectory is provided numerically to account for both passive debris and actively maneuvering spacecraft. Thrusting actions for the chaser object are modeled as discrete (on/off) variables to optimize resources (e.g., fuel) while satisfying spatial, dynamical, and collision-avoidance constraints. The nonlinear equation of motion is discretized directly using a fourth-order Runge-Kutta method without the need for linearized dynamics. The resulting mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) formulation is further enhanced with scaling techniques, valid constraints based on a perspective convex reformulation, and a combination of continuous relaxations of discrete actions with rounding heuristics to recover high-quality feasible solutions. This methodology enables efficient, collision-free trajectory planning over extended time horizons while reducing computational overhead. The effectiveness and practicality of the proposed approach is validated through a numerical case study.