Abstract: Two necessary techniques, orbital transfer and phasing were introduced for coplanar aeroassisted space rendezvous. The Hohmann orbit transfer technique for coplanar high earth orbitlow earth orbit(HEOLEO) transfer and its phasing were analyzed. The coplanar HEOLEO aeroassisted orbital transfer technique was studied in detail. The optimal control theory was applied to resolve a typical optimal trajectory of the aeroassisted orbital transfer from a HEO to a LEO and the orbital phase angle of the OTV flying in the atmosphere was obtained. Based on the space rendezvous thcory, a calculation expression of the standard phase angle that must be complied with for the coplanar HEOLEO aeroassisted space rendezvous was derived and the phasing problem of the aeroassisted space rendezvous was analyzed. The Hohmann technique and the aeroassisted technique were compared and concluded that the latter can not only save the fuel but also rendezvous in a reasonable time.

Key words: aircraft control and navigation technology, high earth orbit(HEO), low earth orbit(LEO), space rendezvous, orbital transfer, phase angle, aerodynamic force