Finite-time control for asteroid hovering and landing via terminal sliding-mode guidance

This paper proposes a new nonlinear guidance algorithm applicable for asteroid both hovering and landing. With the new guidance, a spacecraft achieves its target position and velocity in finite-time without the requirement of reference trajectories. The global stability is proven for the controlled system. A parametric analysis is conducted to illustrate the parameters' effects on the guidance algorithm. Simulations of straight landing, hovering to hovering and landing with a prior hovering phase of the highly irregular asteroid 2063 Bacchus are presented and the effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated.